Recovering social and cultural dynamics from plaster floors: Chemical analyses at ancient Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico

Scott R. Hutson; Richard E. Terry

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.08.004

Recovering social and cultural dynamics from plaster floors: Chemical analyses at ancient Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico

Scott R. Hutson, Richard E. Terry

Anthropology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Phosphate analysis and trace metals analysis were used to determine activities that took place on plaster floors in domestic contexts at the ancient Maya site of Chunchucmil, Yucatan. Research on activities and the use of space contributes to an understanding of social relations within household groups as well as unforeseen patterns that structure refuse discard. The floors analyzed in this paper pertain to three structures in two neighboring houselots dating to the Early Classic (300-600 A.D.) period. Data from the chemical analyses were utilized in conjunction with associated architectural features and artifacts found on the floors. These three lines of information were interpreted with the help of models developed from ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological research. The results demonstrated functional differentiation of rooms within elaborate residences and suggested that front rooms were used to host visitors. The results also suggested that different types of debris were managed differently. Finally, chemical analyses suggest that non-elite Maya occasionally enacted rituals often restricted to elites.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	391-404
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	33
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2005.08.004
State	Published - Mar 2006

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The research described in this paper was initiated with the permission of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Mexico. In particular, we thank Joaquin García Bárcena, director of the Consejo de Arqueología, and Luis Millet and Alfredo Barrera Rubio, the current and former directors of the INAH regional center in Yucatan. The excavations and analyses were conducted as part of the Pakbeh Regional Economy Program, and we thank the directors, Bruce Dahlin and Traci Ardren, for their support and encouragement. The fieldwork and labwork represented in this paper was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Lowie/Olson fund at the University of California, Berkeley. Fieldwork was overseen by Ramon Canul Cauich, Jamie Forde, Brett Moore and Crystal West. A number of people have provided helpful comments on this research, including three anonymous reviewers, Tim Beach, Rosemary Joyce, Christine Hastorf and Aline Magnoni.

Keywords

Ancient Maya
Formation processes
Household archaeology
Soil chemistry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
Archaeology

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10.1016/j.jas.2005.08.004

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title = "Recovering social and cultural dynamics from plaster floors: Chemical analyses at ancient Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico",

abstract = "Phosphate analysis and trace metals analysis were used to determine activities that took place on plaster floors in domestic contexts at the ancient Maya site of Chunchucmil, Yucatan. Research on activities and the use of space contributes to an understanding of social relations within household groups as well as unforeseen patterns that structure refuse discard. The floors analyzed in this paper pertain to three structures in two neighboring houselots dating to the Early Classic (300-600 A.D.) period. Data from the chemical analyses were utilized in conjunction with associated architectural features and artifacts found on the floors. These three lines of information were interpreted with the help of models developed from ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological research. The results demonstrated functional differentiation of rooms within elaborate residences and suggested that front rooms were used to host visitors. The results also suggested that different types of debris were managed differently. Finally, chemical analyses suggest that non-elite Maya occasionally enacted rituals often restricted to elites.",

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note = "Funding Information: The research described in this paper was initiated with the permission of the Instituto Nacional de Antropolog{\'i}a e Historia (INAH), Mexico. In particular, we thank Joaquin Garc{\'i}a B{\'a}rcena, director of the Consejo de Arqueolog{\'i}a, and Luis Millet and Alfredo Barrera Rubio, the current and former directors of the INAH regional center in Yucatan. The excavations and analyses were conducted as part of the Pakbeh Regional Economy Program, and we thank the directors, Bruce Dahlin and Traci Ardren, for their support and encouragement. The fieldwork and labwork represented in this paper was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Lowie/Olson fund at the University of California, Berkeley. Fieldwork was overseen by Ramon Canul Cauich, Jamie Forde, Brett Moore and Crystal West. A number of people have provided helpful comments on this research, including three anonymous reviewers, Tim Beach, Rosemary Joyce, Christine Hastorf and Aline Magnoni. ",

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Recovering social and cultural dynamics from plaster floors: Chemical analyses at ancient Chunchucmil, Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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