Middle Preclassic Interregional Interaction and the Maya Lowlands

Abstract

The lowland Mayas are seldom mentioned in discussions of early Mesoamerican interactions, which commonly focus on the Gulf coast Olmecs. But such connections are evidenced by the occurrence of anthropomorphic fired-clay figurines and other artifacts (including obsidian, greenstone, bark beaters, and shell), reviewed herein. Figurines co-occur with a distinctive architectural complex in the southern lowlands but are absent in the north; other artifacts are variably present north-south and east-west. These goods relate to the development of societal complexity and cosmopolitical power, and helped support the roles of nascent elites, particularly in linkages with ancestors. Their variable distributions suggest that the lowland Mayas participated, but selectively, in early interaction spheres.

Faceless Hierarchy at Nixtun-Ch'ich’, Peten, Guatemala

“…Furthermore, Aguada Fénix differs as it is oriented north to south. Unfortunately, we have no evidence of interaction between Nixtun-Ch'ich’ and the other regions other than the jade mask fragment, E-Groups, and clay figurines styles (Rice 2015).…”

“…The style of the figurines at Nixtun-Ch'ich’ suggest interregional interaction (Rice 2015). We have also found evidence for the import of obsidian, greenstone, and marine shell at Middle Preclassic Nixtun-Ch'ich’.…”

Preclassic ceramic economy in Belize: neutron activation analysis at Cahal Pech

“…Early Middle Preclassic (900–600 cal BC) population expansion and economic growth across the southern lowlands was accompanied by the adoption of more standardised Mamon-tradition ceramics, which are characterised by monochrome, red-slipped pottery (Willey et al 1965; Gifford 1976; Rice 2015). The contemporaneous Kanluk ceramic complex at Cahal Pech primarily comprises coarse-paste utilitarian ceramics and fine-paste Mars Orange wares, the latter including red-slipped Savana Orange and Reforma Incised types (Figure 5; Gifford 1976; Awe 1992).…”

Chemical paste characterization of Late Middle Preclassic-period ceramics from Holtun, Guatemala and its implications for production and exchange

“…The Middle Preclassic period (1000-300 BCE) witnessed the development of complex society in the Maya lowlands. Previous and more recent investigations have revealed the origins of monumental architecture, long distance exchange of jade and obsidian, social hierarchy, and organized ritual during the Middle Preclassic (Doyle 2012;Inomata et al 2013;Hammond 1999;Rice 2015;Traxler and Sharer 2016).…”

“…These results advance our understanding of Late Middle Preclassic-period ceramic production and exchange at Holtun, and inform the study of the development of socio-political complexity in the Maya lowlands. sites reveal incipient, and in some cases established, signs of socio-political complexity including two or three-tiered settlement patterns, monumental architecture, specialized production, long distance exchange of hard stone, and unequal access to material, social, and political resources (Doyle 2012;Estrada-Belli 2010;Hammond 1999;Hansen 2001;Inomata et al 2015;Rice 2015;Traxler and Sharer 2016). While typological analysis of ceramics has aided archaeologists in establishing site-wide chronologies and inferring interaction during the Late Middle Preclassic period (Callaghan and Neivens de Estrada 2016;Culbert 1993;Forsyth 1989;Gifford 1976;Kosakowsky 1987;Sabloff 1975), to date there are no published data on compositional studies of lowland Maya Late Middle Preclassic-period ceramics that can tell us specifically about production and exchange.…”