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Evaluation of Systematic Surface Evidence for Pottery Production in Veracruz, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Barbara L. Stark  and
Christopher P. Garraty
Barbara L. Stark
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287–2402
Christopher P. Garraty
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287–2402
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Abstract

Survey-based analyses have used varied criteria to detect locations of pottery production in the Gulf lowlands of south-central and southern Veracruz, Mexico. A common practice uses double criteria: high frequencies or high densities of particular kinds of pottery in conjunction with highly reliable indicators, such as kiln fragments. Reliable indicators are relatively scarce, however, and subject to sampling error. Two previous analytical approaches each present problems with respect to threshold values for applying the density and frequency criteria, and a more standard set of procedures is suggested. An alternative criterion using spatial clustering helps reduce susceptibility to sampling error from infrequent finds such as deformed wasters or kiln fragments. In a case study, two newly detected locations of possible pottery production result from application of the alternative double criteria. With incorporation of these new data, changes in Gulf lowland pottery production over time are compatible with a growing role for specialization and marketing, especially from the Late Classic to the Late Postclassic periods. The examination and application of criteria for identifying possible locations of pottery production are important for harnessing the potential of systematic survey and surface collection for studies of economic change.

Los análisis basados en la prospección de superficie han empleado criterios distintos para detectar los lugares de producción alfarera en las tierras bajas del Golfo de las areas sur-central y sur de Veracruz, Mexico. La aplicación de criterios dobles ha sido común, incluyendo por lo menos la presencia de un ejemplo de una categoria confiable de evidencia. Las frecuencias o densidades marcadamente elevadas de algunos tipos de loza se han utilizado junto con los indicadores confiables, pero estos últimos son susceptibles a errores de muestreo. Dos variantes de los métodos previamente aplicados presentan problemas. Se recomienda aquiemplear un método mas estandarizado para realizar comparaciones. El criterio alternativo de concentración espacial que aqui se propone tiene la ventaja de reducir la susceptibilidad de errores de muestreo. En el caso de estudio al que se aplicó, en la cuenca baja oeste del Papaloapan, se detectaron dos nuevos lugares de posible producción alfarera. Con la incorporación de estos nuevos lugares de producción, los cambios a través del tiempo en la producción alfarera del Golfo concuerdan con un escenario en que la especialización económica y los mercados juegan unpapel incremente, especialmente desde el Clásico Tardío hasta el Postclásico Tardio. El examinary aplicar del criterio doble para identificar los posibles lugares de la producción alfarera son importantes para realizar el potencial de las prospecciones sistemáticas y la recolección de superficie para estudiar los cambios económicos.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 123 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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