Characterizing Pottery Fabrics Using Digital Image Analysis: An Investigation of the Socio-economy of the Late Postclassic Maya of Northern Yucatan

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Late Postclassic Maya Pottery from northern Yucatán sites, including Mayapán, was analyzed using petrographic, chemical, and surface features analyses, seeking patterns in ceramic technology and social interactions. New information was gained (Sánchez Fortoul, C.G , 2018) regarding the selection and processing of raw materials, ceramic production location and technology, export/import of Mayapán vessels and mechanisms of exchange, and the role of Mayapán and north-central centers in the sub-regional economy. New insights on the existence, time depth, and scope of technological traditions were gained. Mayapán traditions linking raw materials and some vessel types differ from the minor centers. Furthermore, varied composition characterizes the samples from minor centers, likely from dispersed production, while compositional and technological homogeneity characterize Mayapán samples. However, two fabrics (sparite and micrite sascab), commonly found in north-central samples but rarely in Mayapán samples, remained broadly defined, hindering research on movement of vessels. This paper focuses on further examination of samples using digital-image analysis of thin sections aiming to understand the movement of vessels and social interactions between north-central centers and Mayapán. Preliminary results indicate differences between samples from minor centers and Mayapán suggesting that vessels from the minor centers where not taken to the main center, Mayapán.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24549