No description available.

Archaeologists have identified many prehistoric structures affiliated with the Manteño culture (500 CE to 1532 CE) of coastal Ecuador, but the function of those constructions is rarely understood. As part of an ongoing project by Florida Atlantic University to explore the function of these buildings, I conducted systematic soil phosphate testing in and around two archaeological structures and, for ethnoarchaeological comparison, four contemporary households. The two prehistoric structures are located 200 meters from each other and on two different river terraces within the same river valley. They are part of a larger site (C4-084). I found clear spatial patterning in phosphate concentrations in and around the archaeological structures. The concentrations were higher inside the structures, while outside they decreased with distance from the structure. Statistical testing and spatial analysis have suggested the two structures were used for different purposes. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This thesis focuses on the possible functions of three stone structures associated with the Manteno culture (500-1532 A.D.) of coastal Ecuador. The ceramic distributions of each structure were compared (C4-044-1, C4-096-2 and C4-097-2) and the diagnostic sherds were analyzed by form according to Mester's and Rowe's ceramic classifications (Mester 1990; Rowe 2005). The statistics suggest that each of the structures served different functions. C4-044-1 likely domestic, C4-096-2 probably functioned as a kitchen and C4-097-2 was a storage area. A χ2 test suggests that the ceramic forms from C4-044-1 differ significantly from those recovered from C4-096-2. Diversity indices indicate that C4-044-1 has the highest diversity of vessel forms and that its diversity differs significantly from the other structures. The correspondence analysis reinforces these results, with the high segregation of the lots and vessel forms . / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection