Vessels at War: The Kerr Archive and the Study of Classic Maya Violence

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Rollout Keepers: Papers on Maya Ceramic Texts, Scenes, and Styles in Honor of Justin and Barbara Kerr" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Rollout images of Maya vases and the database developed by Justin and Barbara Kerr allowed unfettered access to Classic Maya depictions of tribute, palace life, and mythic history. The Kerr Archive also brought into focus marching warriors and captured enemies, some of them sacrificed in polychronic detail. In this paper I examine how the Kerr Archive has enabled a better understanding of violent imagery through the lens of painted vases. I consider the iconography, style, and embodied experience of scenes of warfare, including its preparation and aftermath. I argue that painted scenes of warfare prioritize relational networks, complementing archaeological and sculptural approaches to the study of Maya war. Where possible, I consider the context of vessels depicting violent scenes, exploring how painted ceramics intersected with other forms of painting and sculpture to convey political, economic, and cultural narratives.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Rollout Keepers: Papers on Maya Ceramic Texts, Scenes, and Styles in Honor of Justin and Barbara Kerr   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39130.0