Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:31:11.395Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Functional Variation of Maya Spiked Vessels: A Practical Guide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael Deal*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, CanadaV5A 1S6

Abstract

Ethnoarchaeological research has made valuable contributions towards our understanding of the functional variation of specific artifacts and features. The use of spiked vessel-forms among modern Maya groups, as well as the depictions of spiked vessels in the surviving Maya codices, suggest that spiked vessels have served a relatively wider range of functions (although invariably in a ritual context) than most Mesoamericanists have suspected. A critical review of the spiked vessel phenomenon, using the codices, the archaeological literature, and recent ethnographic data is presented as a guide for future archaeological interpretation.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Adams, Richard E. W. 1971 The ceramics of Altar de Sacrificios. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University 63(1). Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Adams, Richard E. W., and Trik, Aubrey S. 1961 Temple 1 (Str. 5D-1): Post constructional activities. University of Pennsylvania, Museum Monograph, Ttfcal Report 7:113148. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Agrinier, Pierre 1978 A sacrificial mass burial at Miramar, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 42.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. Wyllys IV 1970 Balankanche, throne of the tiger priest. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 32. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Ball, Joseph W. 1977 The archaeological ceramics of Becan, Campeche, Mexico. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 43. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Ball, Joseph W. 1980 The archaeological ceramics of Chinkultic, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 43.Google Scholar
Borhegyi, Stephen F., De 1950 Rim-head vessels and cone-shaped effigy prongs of the Pre-classic period at Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology 4(97):6080. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Borhegyi, Stephen F., De 1951 Further notes on three-pronged incense burners and rim-head vessels in Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology 4(105):162176. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Brainerd, George W. 1958 The archaeological ceramics of Yucatan. University of California Anthropological Records 19. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Bullard, William R. 1965 Stratigraphic excavations at San Estevan, northern British Honduras. Occasional Papers of the Royal Ontario Museum 9. Toronto.Google Scholar
Butler, Mary 1940 A pottery sequence from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. In The Maya and their neighbours, edited by Hay, C. L., Linton, R. L., Lothrap, S. K., Shapiro, H. L., and Vaillant, G. C., pp. 250267. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.Google Scholar
Carnegie Institution 1955 Ancient Maya paintings of Bonampak, Mexico. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 46. Supplement, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Coe, William B. 1959 Piedras Negras archaeology: artifacts, caches, and burials. University of Pennsylvania Museum Monographs. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Coxoh Project 1977 Unpublished fieldnotes. Ms. on file, Office of the Coxoh Ethnoarchaeological Project, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia.Google Scholar
Culbert, T. Patrick 1965 The ceramic history of the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 19, Publication 14.Google Scholar
Deal, Michael 1980 Recognition of ritual pottery in residential units: an ethnoarchaeological model of the Maya family altar tradition. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation, in press.Google Scholar
Deal, Michael, and Hayden, Brian 1980 The persistence of Pre-Columbian lithic technology in the form of glass-working. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation, in press.Google Scholar
Edmonson, Munro S., and Hayden, Brian 1971 The book of counsel: the Popol Vuh of the Quiche Maya of Guatemala. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 35. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Howry, Jeffrey C. 1976 Fires on the mountain; ceramic traditions and marketing in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Kaplan, Lawrence 1959 Vegetation dynamics. University of Chicago, Report on the Man-In-Nature Project, Report on Chiapas, Mexico. Microfilm collection of manuscripts on American Cultural Anthropology, Part 2(6): 14, appendix 4.Google Scholar
Kidder, A. V. 1943 Pottery from the Pacific Slope of Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology 1(15):8191. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Kidder, A. V. 1950 Certain archaeological specimens from Guatemala, Part II. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology 1(95):4651. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Lee, Thomas A., Jr. 1974 Mound 4 excavations at San Isidro, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 34.Google Scholar
Lee, Thomas A., Jr. 1977 Coapa, Chiapas: a 16th century Coxoh Maya village on the Camino Real. In The Upper Grijalva Basin Maya Project: reports on fieldwork of 1975-1976, pp. 173202. New World Archaeological Foundation.Google Scholar
Lothrop, Samuel Kirkland 1926 Pottery of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Heye Foundation, Museum of the American Indian, Contribution 8(1-2). New York.Google Scholar
Lowe, Gareth W. 1959 Archaeological explorations of the Upper Grijalva River, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 2.Google Scholar
Lowe, Gareth W. 1965 Desarrollo y function del incensario en Izapa. Estudios De Cultura Maya 5:5364.Google Scholar
Mason, Gregory 1928 Pottery and other artifacts from the caves in British Honduras and Guatemala. Heye Foundation, Indian Notes and Monographs 47. New York.Google Scholar
Mason, J. Alden 1960 Mound 12, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 9.Google Scholar
Matheny, Ray T. 1970 The ceramics of Aguacatl, Campeche, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 27.Google Scholar
Miles, Susan 1965 Sculpture of the Guatemala-Chiapas Highlands and Pacific Slopes, and associated hieroglyphs. In Handbook of Middle American Indians (Vol. 2), edited by Robert, Wauchope and Gordon, R. Willey, pp. 237275. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Navarrete, Carlos 1960 Archaeological explorations in the region of the Frailesca, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 7.Google Scholar
Navarrete, Carlos 1966 The Chiapanec history and culture. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 21. Publication 16.Google Scholar
Noguera, Eduardo 1975 La cerámica Arqueológica de Mesoamérica. Universidad Autonoma de México, Mexico.Google Scholar
Norman, V. Garth 1973 Izapa sculpture, Part l:album. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 30.Google Scholar
Norman, V. Garth 1976 Izapa sculpture, Part 2:text. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 30.Google Scholar
Pendergast, David M. 1970 A. H. Anderson's excavations at Rio Frio Cave E, British Honduras (Belize). Occasional Papers of the Royal Ontario Museum 20. Toronto.Google Scholar
Rands, Robert L., and Smith, Robert E. 1965 Pottery of the Guatemala Highlands. In Handbook of Middle American Indians (Vol. 2), edited by Wauchope, R. and Willey, G. R., pp. 95145. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Redfield, Robert 1936 The coati and the ceiba. Maya Research 3:231243.Google Scholar
Ricketson, O. G., and Ricketson, E. B. 1937 Uaxactun, Guatemala. Group E 1926-1931. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 403. Contributions 1. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A. 1975 Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala. Ceramics. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University 13 (2). Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Sanders, William T. 1961 Ceramic stratigraphy at Santa Cruz, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 13.Google Scholar
Satterthwaite, Linton 1946 Incense burning at Piedras Negras. University of Pennsylvania Museum Bulletin 2(4):1622. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Sharer, Robert J. 1978 The prehistory of Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Vol. 3 Pottery and Conclusions. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L., and Kidder, A. V. 1943 Excavations in the Motagua Valley Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 546. Contributions 41(8):101182. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L., and Kidder, A. V. 1951 Excavations at Nebaj, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 594. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, R. E. 1952 Pottery from Chipoc, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 596. Contribution 56. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, R. E. 1954 Pottery specimens of Guatemala: Carnegie I. Institution of Washington. Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology 118:2733. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, R. E. 1955 Ceramics sequence at Uaxactun, Guatemala. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 20. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Smith, R. E. 1971 The pottery of Mayapan. Including studies of ceramic material from Uxmal, Kabah, and Chichen Itza. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University 66. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Thompson, Donald E. 1954 Maya paganism and Christianity: a history of the fusion of the two religions. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 19:136. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1939 Excavations at San Jose, British Honduras. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 506. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1940 Late ceramic horizons at Benque Viejo, British Honduras. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 528. Contribution 35:135. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1970 Maya history and religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1972 A commentary on the Dresden Codex. A Maya hieroglyphic book. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric S. 1978 Maya hieroglyphic writing. An introduction. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Thompson, Raymond H. 1958 Modern Yucatecan Maya pottery making. Memoirs of the Society for American Archaeology 15.Google Scholar
Tozzer, Alfred M. 1966 Landa's relacidn de las cosas de Yucatan. A translation. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University 43. Kraus Reprint.Google Scholar
Tozzer, Alfred M. 1978 A comparative study of Mayas and the Lacandanes. AMS Press Reprint, New York.Google Scholar
Villacorta C. J., Antonio, and Carlos A., Villacorta 1933 Codices Mayas: Dresdensis, Peresianus, Tro-Cortesianus. La Sociedad de Geografia e Historia de Guatemala, La Tipografia Nacional.Google Scholar
Wauchope, Robert 1948 Excavations at Zacualpa, Guatemala. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 14. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Wauchope, Robert 1970 Protohistoric pottery of the Guatemala highlands. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University 61:89244. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Wauchope, Robert 1975 Zacualpa, El Quiche, Guatemala. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, Publication 39. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Willey, Gordon R., and Leventhal, Richard M. 1979 Prehistoric settlement at Copan. In Maya archaeology and ethnohistory, edited by Norman, Hammond and Gordon, R. Willey, pp. 75102. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Woodbury, R. B., and Trik, A. S. 1953 The ruins of Zaculeu, Guatemala. United Fruit Co., Boston.Google Scholar