Comparative Analysis of Preclassic and Protoclassic Burial Practices at Izapa and in Southeastern Mesoamerica

Abstract

Extensive investigation at the archaeological site of Izapa in southern Chiapas, Mexico, by the New World Archaeological Foundation yielded few burials at the site's core ceremonial precinct. Those found were located on the acropolis that supports Mound 30a and defines the north side of Izapa Group B. The majority of caches found in this zone date to the Protoclassic Hato and Itstapa phases (100 b.c.–a.d. 250). The shift in mortuary practices ca. 100 b.c. was accompanied by several changes to the site's occupation and architectural patterns. Study of these mortuary traditions provides important insights regarding the reconfiguration of Izapa's political organization at the turn of the millennium. Comparisons of mortuary practices at Izapa with those of neighboring civic-ceremonial centers El Ujuxte, Takalik Abaj, and Kaminaljuyu during the Preclassic and Protoclassic transitions contextualizes the practices found at Izapa at a regional level.

A Touch of Teotihuacan at Izapa: The Contents of Two Burials From Group F

“…Burial F-30 is considered an urn burial, but for reasons detailed below, it probably should be thought of as a burial with an included urn, or perhaps even a double burial. Burial in urns was a local practice at Izapa that started at least three centuries before the Kato phase (Lowe 1993; Lowe et al 1982:191–196), as described by Lieske (2018) in her article on Group B. Urn burial thus represented a continuity of cultural practices at Izapa and was not a signal of foreignness. Such signals may have been conveyed by the contents of some mortuary offerings.…”

Introducing Izapa

“…Lieske's (2018) contribution, based on her M.A. research, presents a reanalysis of NWAF documentation of mortuary patterns from the south side of Mound 30a.…”

“…The ceramic grave accoutrements interred with these two individuals were of local types. Lieske's (2018) article considers the evidence at Izapa in light of mortuary patterns at El Ujuxte, Takalik Abaj, and Kaminaljuyu and, among other things, points out that, though known from other Pacific coast sites, burying individuals in urns is unique to Izapa among the four centers. The urn-burial tradition at Izapa persisted for the next millennium and may explain why no royal tombs have been discovered at Izapa, in spite of the fact that the NWAF's excavations almost completely dismantled Mound 30a.…”

“…The ceramic grave accoutrements interred with these two individuals were of local types. Lieske's (2018) article considers the evidence at Izapa in light of mortuary patterns at El Ujuxte, Takalik Abaj, and Kaminaljuyu and, among other things, points out that,…”

“…The urn was surrounded by 15 other ceramic vessels designed to serve food in small portions, as well as jade and shell objects for personal adornment. As discussed by Lieske (2018), urn burials were a tradition at Izapa that began during the Hato phase many centuries before those documented at Group F. Burial F-52 was dug into the platform of Mound 125, constructed during the previous Jaritas phase. Of eight Loros phase (a.d. 500-600) burials known from Izapa, they describe Burial F-30, which contained 27 ceramic vessels used for serving liquids (four of which were imported from the Maya lowlands) along with a laurel-leaf biface made of Pachuca obsidian and as a variety of other stone and mineral inclusions.…”