Chemical and Mineralogical Paste Compositional Analysis of Preclassic Pottery from the Holmul Region, Guatemala

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Recent Investigations in Maya Archaeology, Epigraphy, Bioarchaeology, and Zooarchaeology by the Holmul Archaeological Project in Northeastern Peten, Guatemala" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In this paper we discuss the results and implications of a study that employed Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) on a sample of sherds from Late and Terminal Preclassic-period serving vessels recovered in excavations from the Holmul region, Guatemala. Analysis revealed three primary paste groups, each associated with specific elemental concentrations and petrographic characteristics (analyzed in a supplemental study). Group 1 was characterized by high strontium levels and associated with orange ceramics. Group 2 contained ash temper with low calcium and chromium, while Group 3 had high calcium and low strontium, linked to red ceramics. The data suggest that the majority of Late and Terminal Preclassic-period serving vessels were produced within the Holmul region by multiple units using relatively un-restricted paste recipes. However, some pottery in the study may have been produced outside the region using more restricted recipes, highlighting a complex ceramic production and exchange system during the Late and Terminal Preclassic periods. Findings will be discussed in relation to recent chemical and mineralogical analyses of Preclassic pottery at other lowland sites.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Recent Investigations in Maya Archaeology, Epigraphy, Bioarchaeology, and Zooarchaeology by the Holmul Archaeological Project in Northeastern Peten, Guatemala   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50189