In this dissertation I use the theoretical framework of ritual economy combined with ceramic analysis to understand the function and meaning of the introduction of orange slipped pottery to the Holmul Region during the second half of the Terminal Preclassic period (AD 150 250). I test the hypothesis that orange slipped pottery represents an amalgam of restricted or prestige technologies that were initially employed in the production of vessels used in potential elite diacritical feasting events of the Terminal Preclassic period. These vessels are here considered social valuables with various functions including the serving of symbolically charged foods during feasting events, mementos of ritual occasions, inalienable possessions that created social liens between owners and custodians, funerary furniture, and ritual cache objects.
Using a specifically tailored methodology including aspects of type-variety analysis, modal analysis, diversity and standardization studies, petrography, and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis I identify and quantify four statistically significant technologies associated with the monochrome and painted orange pottery traditions of the second half of the Terminal Preclassic period. These technologies encompass more than surface characteristics and are associated with changing patterns in paste preparation, forming, and firing processes from the Late Preclassic through early facet Early Classic periods. Some of these technologies do have roots in the red monochrome tradition of the Late Preclassic period, supporting the notion that the orange slipped traditions arose out of local innovation, at least within the Holmul Region.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-11072008-091202 |
| Date | 09 December 2008 |
| Creators | Callaghan, Michael George |
| Contributors | Dr. John Janusek, Dr. Tiffiny Tung, Dr. Norman Hammond, Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-11072008-091202/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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