Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T16:06:46.619Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Flakes to Blades? Middle Formative Development of Obsidian Artifacts in the Upper Belize River Valley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jaime Awe  and
Paul F. Healy
Jaime Awe
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
Paul F. Healy
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The recovery of obsidian artifacts in radiometrically dated cultural stratigraphic levels at the Maya site of Cahal Pech (Belize) suggests that there was a flake-to-bladelet sequence of development of obsidian technology in the Belize Valley region of the Maya lowlands. Obsidian artifacts within levels dating to the first half of the early Middle Formative period (1000-850 B.C.) at Cahal Pech consist exclusively of flakes. Prismatic blades first occur in late Middle Formative (650-450 B.C.) levels, and remain the predominant artifact type throughout the subsequent Late Formative and Classic periods. This Middle Formative transition in obsidian artifacts has been recorded elsewhere in Mesoamerica, but the Cahal Pech data represent the first explicitly documented case of the developmental sequence in the central Maya lowlands.

La recuperación de artefactos de obsidiana en niveles estratigráficos culturales fechados radiometricamente en el sitio maya de Cahal Pech (Belice) sugiere que ahí había una secuencia de hojuela a navajas prismáticas en la tecnología de obsidiana en la región del valle de Belice en las tierras bajas mayas. Artefactos de obsidiana dentro de los niveles fechados en la primera mitad del período Formativo Medio temprano (1000-850 A.C.) en Cahal Pech consisten exclusivamente de herramientas de hojuela. Hojas prismáticas se encontraron por primera vez en los niveles Medio Formativo tardio (650-450 A.C.) y continuían siendo el tipo de herramienta predominante a lo largo de los subsecuentes períodos Formativo Tardío y Clásico. Esta transición del tipo de artefacto de obsidiana durante el período Formativo Medio ha sido notada en otras partes de Mesoamérica, pero los datos de Cahal Pech representan el primer caso explícitamente documentado de esta secuencia de desarrollo en las tierras bajas centrales mayas.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 193 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1994

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

Awe, J. J. 1992 Dawn in the Land Between the Rivers: Formative Occupation at Cahal Pech, Belize, and Its Implications For Preclassic Development in the Central Maya Lowlands. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Institute of Archaeology, University of London, England.Google Scholar
Awe, J. J., Bill, C., Campbell, M. D., and Cheetham, D. 1990 Early Middle Formative Occupation in the Central Maya Lowlands: Recent Evidence from Cahal Pech, Belize. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology 1:1–5. University College, London.Google Scholar
Awe, J. J., and Campbell, M. D. 1991 Summary of the 1990 Field Season at Cahal Pech, Belize. In Report of the Third (1990) Season of Investigations at Cahal Pech, Belize, edited by J. J. Awe and M. D. Campbell, pp. 1–8. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Awe, J. J., Campbell, M. D., and Conlon, J. M. 1991 Preliminary Analysis of the Spatial Configuration of the Site Core at Cahal Pech, Belize, and its Implications to Lowland Maya Social Organization. Mexicon 13(2):25–30.Google Scholar
Awe, J. J., Healy, P. F., and Stevenson, C. 1994 Preclassic Maya Obsidian in the Belize Valley. Manuscript on file, Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Ball, J. W., and Taschek, J. T. 1991 Late Classic Lowland Maya Political Organization and Central-Place Analysis: New Insights from the Upper Belize Valley. Ancient Mesoamerica 2:149–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, J. E. 1981 The Early Preclassic Obsidian Industry of Paso de la Amada, Chiapas, Mexico. Estudios de Cultura Maya 13:265–284.Google Scholar
Clark, J. E. 1987 Politics, Prismatic Blades, and Mesoamerican Civilization. In The Organization of Core Technology, edited by K. K. Johnson and C. A. Morrow, pp. 259–284. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.Google Scholar
Clark, J. E. 1989 Obsidian Tool Manufacture. In Ancient Trade and Tribute: Economies of the Soconusco Region of Mesoamerica, edited by B. Voorhies, pp. 215–228. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Clark, J. E., and Lee, T. A. Jr. 1983 The Changing Role of Obsidian Exchange in Chiapas, Mexico: An Experimental Analysis of Production. Manuscript on file, New World Archaeological Foundation, Brigham Young University, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.Google Scholar
Clark, J. E., and Lee, T. A. Jr. 1984 Formative Obsidian Exchange and the Emergence of Public Economies in Chiapas, Mexico. In Trade and Exchange in Early Mesoamerica, edited by K. Hirth, pp. 235–274. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Coe, M. D., and Flannery, K. V. 1967 Early Cultures and Human Ecology in South Coastal Guatemala. Contributions to Anthropology Vol. 3. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreiss, M. L. 1988 Obsidian at Colha, Belize: A Technological Analysis and Distributional Study Based on Trace Element Data. Papers of the Colha Project Vol. 4. Texas Archaeological Laboratory, University of Texas, Austin, and Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio.Google Scholar
Dreiss, M. L. 1989 An Obsidian Distribution Model for the Belize Periphery. In Coastal Maya Trade, edited by H. McKillop and P. F. Healy, pp. 79–90. Trent University Occasional Publications in Anthropology No. 8. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Fowler, W. Jr. 1991 Lithic Analysis as a Means of Processual Inference in Southern Mesoamerica: A Review of Recent Research. In Maya Stone Tools: Selected Papers from the Second Maya Lithic Conference, edited by T. R. Hester and H. J. Shafer, pp. 1–20. Prehistory Press, Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
Graham, J. A., Hester, T. R., and Jack, R. N. 1972 Sources for the Obsidian at the Ruins of Seibal, Peten, Guatemala. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 16:111–116. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1972 Obsidian Trade Routes in the Maya Area. Science 178:1092–1093.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1976 Maya Obsidian Trade in Southern Belize. In Maya Lithic Studies: Papers from the 1976 Belize Field Symposium, edited by T. R. Hester and N. Hammond, pp. 71–82. Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1991 Obsidian Trade. In Cuello: An Early Maya Community in Belize, edited by N. Hammond, pp. 197–198. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Hammond, N., Neivens, M. D., and Harbottle, G. 1984 Trace Element Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from a Classic Maya Residential Group at Nohmul, Belize. American Antiquity 49:815–820.Google Scholar
Hammond, N., Clarke, A., and Robin, C. 1991 Middle Preclassic Buildings and Burials at Cuello, Belize: 1990 Investigations. Latin American Antiquity 2:352–363.Google Scholar
Healy, P. F. 1989 Coastal Maya Trade: Some Observations. In Coastal Maya Trade, edited by H. McKillop and P. F. Healy, pp. 155–164. Trent University Occasional Publications in Anthropology No. 8. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Healy, P. F. 1990 Excavations at Pacbitun, Belize: Preliminary Report on the 1986 and 1987 Investigations. Journal of Field Archaeology 17:247–262.Google Scholar
Healy, P. F., McKillop, H. I., and Walsh, B. 1984 Analysis of Obsidian from Moho Cay, Belize: New Evidence on Classic Maya Trade Routes. Science 225:414–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jackson, T. L., and Love, M. W. 1991 Blade Running: Middle Preclassic Obsidian Exchange and the Introduction of Prismatic Blades at La Blanca, Guatemala. Ancient Mesoamerica 2:47–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, J. K. 1991 Obsidian: A Technological Analysis. In Cuello: An Early Maya Community in Belize, edited by N. Hammond, pp. 169–173. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Kosakowsky, L. J. 1983 Intrasite Variability of the Formative Ceramics from Cuello, Belize: An Analysis of Form and Function. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Arizona. University Microfilms, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Lewenstein, S. M., and Walker, J. 1984 The Obsidian Chip/Manioc Grating Hypothesis and the Mesoamerican Preclassic. Journal of New World Archaeology 6(2):25–38.Google Scholar
McKillop, H., and Jackson, L. 1989 Maya Obsidian Sources and Trade Routes. In Coastal Maya Trade, edited by H. McKillop and P. F. Healy, pp. 59–78. Trent University Occasional Publications in Anthropology No. 8. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, H. 1975 Obsidian at Tikal, Guatemala. In Adas del XLI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas 1:511–518. Mexico.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, H. 1976 Spatial Distribution of Flint and Obsidian Artifacts at Tikal, Guatemala. In Maya Lithic Studies: Papers from the 1976 Belize Field Symposium, edited by T. R. Hester and N. Hammond, pp. 137–149. Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, H., Asaro, F., and Stross, F. H. 1984 Tikal Obsidian: Sources and Typology. American Antiquity 49:104–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neivens, M. D., Hammond, N., and Harbottle, G. 1979 Maya Obsidian from Northern Belize: Source Attribution Resulting from Neutron Activation Analysis. Abstracts of the 19th International Symposium on Archaeometry and Archaeological Prospection, 1979:19. British Museum Research Laboratory and Institute of Archaeology. University of London, London.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W. 1980 Obsidian Exchange Networks in the Maya Lowlands. Manuscript on file, New World Archaeological Foundation, Brigham Young University, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W. 1985 Summary of the Results of Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from the Maya Lowlands. Scanning Electron Microscopy 11:631–649.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W., Nielson, K. K., Mangelson, N. F., Hill, M. W., and Matheny, R. T. 1977 Preliminary Studies of the Trace Element Composition of Obsidian Artifacts from Northern Campeche, Mexico. American Antiquity 42:209–225.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W., Phillips, D. A., and Barrera Rubio, A. 1983 Trace Element Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from the Northern Maya Lowlands. In Investigations at Edzna, Campeche, Mexico. New World Archaeological Foundation Paper 46:204–239. Provo, Utah.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W., Sidrys, R. V., and Holmes, R. D. 1978 Trace Element Analysis by X-Ray Fluorescence of Obsidian Artifacts from Guatemala and Belize. In Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala: Artifacts, edited by G. R. Willey, pp. 153–161. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 14, No. 1. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Rice, P. M. 1984 Obsidian Procurement in the Central Peten Lakes Region, Guatemala. Journal of Field Archaeology 11:181–194.Google Scholar
Rice, P., Michel, H., Asaro, F., and Stress, F. H. 1985 Provenience Analysis of Obsidians from the Central Peten Lakes Region, Guatemala. American Antiquity 50:591–604.Google Scholar
Satterthwaite, L. 1951 Reconnaissance in British Honduras. University Museum Bulletin 16(1):21–37. University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Sidrys, R. 1976 Classic Maya Obsidian Trade. American Antiquity 41:449–464.Google Scholar
Sidrys, R., Andresen, J., and Marcucci, D. 1976 Obsidian Sources in the Maya Area. Journal of New World Archaeology 1:1–13.Google Scholar
Stress, F. H., Sheets, P., Asaro, F., and Michel, H. V. 1983 Precise Characterization of Guatemalan Obsidian Sources and Source Determination of Artifacts from Quirigua. American Antiquity 48:335–346.Google Scholar
Tourtellot, G., and Sabloff, J. A. 1972 Exchange Systems Among the Ancient Maya. American Antiquity 37:126–135.Google Scholar
Wilk, R. 1976–1977 Microscopic Analysis of Chipped Stone Tools from Barton Ramie, British Honduras. Estudios de Cultura Maya 10:53–68.Google Scholar
Wilk, R. 1978 Microscopic Analysis of Chipped Flint and Obsidian. In Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala: Artifacts, edited by G. R. Willey, pp. 139–145. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 14, No. 1. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Willey, G. R. 1972 The Artifacts of Altar de Sacrificios. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 64, No. 1. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Willey, G. R. 1978 Artifacts. In Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala, edited by G. R. Willey, pp. 1–189. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 14, No. 1. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Willey, G. R., Bullard, W.R. Jr., Glass, J. B., and Ginbrd, J. C. 1965 Prehistoric Maya Settlements in the Belize Valley. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 54. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Woerner, M. C. 1980 Descriptive Analysis of the Obsidian from Operation 2012, 1980 Season. In Colha Project Second Season 1980 Interim Report, edited by T. R. Hester, J. D. Eaton, H. J. Shafer, pp. 301–312. Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio, and Centre Studi e Ricerche Ligabue, Venice.Google Scholar