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Early Pottery and Construction at Nixtun-Ch'ich’, Petén, Guatemala: Preliminary Observations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2019

Prudence M. Rice Open the ORCID record for Prudence M. Rice [Opens in a new window]
Prudence M. Rice*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology (distinguished professor emerita), Southern Illinois University, 1809 W. Main Street PMB 298, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. ([email protected])
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Abstract

Early occupation at Nixtun-Ch'ich’, on the western edge of Lake Petén Itzá, is dated by two ceramic complexes, K'as and Chich. These represent the Late and Terminal Early Preclassic or the early and late “Pre-Mamom” periods, respectively (ca. 1300–800 BC), including a “Transitional” period incorporating Nix Middle Preclassic (Mamom) pottery. Comparisons with complexes at other sites in the region permit the dating of 10 construction loci, including 3 in the civic-ceremonial core. Low late Pre-Mamom platforms were raised and expanded in Transitional and Early Middle Preclassic times, when they were elaborated into two E-Groups and a Triadic Structure on the central axis. This building activity is interpreted in terms of cooperative or corporate labor organization and related to evolutionary game theory. The ritual foundation of such organization is evident in the site's gridded layout based on a mythical world-creation crocodile.

En este artículo se examinan dos complejos cerámicos tempranos, K'as y Chich, del sitio de Nixtun-Ch'ich’ en la ribera oeste del Lago Petén Itzá. Estos complejos representan los períodos Preclásico temprano tardío y terminal, es decir “Pre-Mamom” temprano y tardío, desde aproximadamente 1300 aC hasta 800 aC, incluyendo un período “Transicional” con cerámica del complejo Nix Preclásico medio (Mamom). La comparación de los engobes y formas de esta cerámica con los de otros sitios en la región, permitió establecer la cronología de diez construcciones en el sitio, incluyendo tres en el núcleo cívico-ceremonial. Las plataformas bajas construidas en el Pre-Mamom tardío fueron elevadas en los períodos Transicional y Preclásico medio, algunas elaboradas para crear dos “Grupo-E” y un complejo triádico en el núcleo monumental y sobre el eje central. Estas actividades de construcción se interpretan por medio de la teoría de juegos evolutivos (“evolutionary game theory”) o seleccionismo en términos de la organización laboral cooperativa o corporativa. La base ritual de esta organización es evidente en el diseño reticulado del sitio basado en una ideología de un cocodrilo mítico de la creación del mundo. Desafortunadamente, no sabemos nada del individuo o de los grupos que podrían haber planificado este diseño y programado la labor necesaria para realizarlo.

Keywords

Maya archaeologyMiddle Preclassic potterycooperative laborArqueología Mayacerámica del Preclásico mediotrabajo cooperativo
Type
Article
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , September 2019 , pp. 471 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by the Society for American Archaeology 

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