An Iconographic Study of Pottery Stamps from a Postclassic Village in Las Margaritas, Chiapas, Mexico

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The abundance of pottery stamps, variety of designs and quality of its craftsmanship during the Postclassic period, contrasts with the scarce studies regarding these special artifacts whose analysis can contribute to the knowledge of significant aspects of ancient Maya culture. These stamps were used to imprint decorative motifs on the human body, fabrics, or other materials, and its designs, loaded with symbolism, merit further attention. In this paper we will present the preliminary results of a typological analysis of motifs carved on a group of 206 stamps, excavated at a Late Postclassic and Colonial (1250-1524 AD) settlement in the Maya Highlands, at Las Margaritas, Chiapas, Mexico. The designs in our sample show schematic representations and animal figures, like birds, snakes and mammals, with important symbolic implications in local culture.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38332.0