Vasijas No Conquistadas. Patrones De Continuidad De La Cerámica Maya

Abstract

Contact with the Spanish resulted in marked changes in the way of life of the populations of the New World. The production of objects also had to respond to the new system, including new technologies. Ceramics constitute a good example, as a durable and indispensable material for carrying out various tasks, whose production was adapted and merged with the new colonial tradition. However, in several cases the elaboration techniques and other features were maintained. In this contribution, focus is placed on examples of Maya ceramics from the Western Highlands of Guatemala and of the Lacandones from Chiapas, Mexico. Taking into account some important factors such as decorations, forms and manufacturing techniques, as observed, for example, among the Chuj of western Huehuetenango and other communities of the highlands, as well as their spiritual content, as for the Lacandon censers of Chiapas. With regards to colonial ceramics, types exhibiting features of the prehispanic tradition have been identified, as for example, the Late Postclassic Chinautla polychrome type, which was used for funeral urns, a ceramic type that continues to be manufactured in the municipality of Chinautla, Guatemala to this day. This paper identifies the patterns of continuity, their circumstances, conditions, as well as possible generalizations.