Crafting in a Non-elite Maya Household at Holtun, Guatemala

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The site of Holtun, in the central lakes region of the Maya lowlands, was occupied from the Preclassic through the Postclassic. Over 30 residential groups make up the northern settlement area on the periphery of Holtun where most of these surface residential structures date to the Late Classic and Terminal Classic periods. The non-elite household designated as Group N33 is located within this northern settlement and consists of a patio group and agricultural terracing to the south and west. A much larger quantity of formal chert tools and debitage were recovered within this group when compared to other households sampled across Holtun. Additionally, a test unit located to the southwest directly outside of the patio group uncovered large concentrations of chert blades and debitage within clay-like matrixes extending down approximately 3 meters. This paper discusses Group N33’s possible role(s) within this Classic period community, including its position in the production, distribution, and use of chert, as well as obsidian and ceramics. This non-elite household used chert tool production to augment their local socio-economic status and elevate their position during the Late to Terminal Classic periods.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36954.0