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The Pennsylvania State University the Graduate School College of The The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of the Liberal Arts AN EXAMINATION OF THE UAPALA-USULUTÁN CERAMIC SPHERE USING INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS A Dissertation in Anthropology by Craig Thomas Goralski © 2008 Craig Thomas Goralski Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2008 The dissertation of Craig Thomas Goralski was reviewed and approved* by the following: Kenneth G. Hirth Professor of Archaeological Anthropology Dissertation Adviser Chair of Committee David L. Webster Professor of Archaeological Anthropology Lee A. Newsom Associate Professor of Archaeological Anthropology Barry E. Scheetz Professor of Civil Engineering Dean R. Snow Professor of Anthropology Chair of the Graduate Program in Anthropology *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School ii ABSTRACT This thesis summarizes an examination of the Uapala-Usulután Ceramic Sphere using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Usulután pottery is found at sites within chiefdoms throughout El Salvador and portions of Honduras during the Late Formative to Early Classic transition (400 BC – AD 250). Usulután pottery can be divided into two type-varieties: Izalco Usulután and Bolo Orange. Both type-varieties distinctive for their burnished surface and orange on cream resist decoration. Izalco Usulután is made with fine textured cream colored clays. Bolo Orange is made with medium to fine texture buff to orange colored clays. Although they are similar in appearance, each type has a different pattern of distribution throughout this region. These patterns of distribution have lead researchers to argue for increased interaction among the chiefdoms. The region marked by this interaction is called the Uapala Ceramic Sphere. While some level of interaction is agreed upon, the specific behaviors that caused these patterns has been debated. This thesis identifies patterns of Usulután production and distribution using INAA, which measures the chemical composition of pottery by bombarding samples with neturons through irradiation and then measuring the characteristic energy released by different elements as they release them. The amounts of different elements for each sample are used to group sherds statistically based on compositional similarity. Examination of these groups can identify loci of production and the subsequent movement of pots from these loci to where they are used and deposited. A total of 229 Usulután sherds were submitted to INAA and their chemical compositions were compared. Grouping based on compositional similarities revealed that the majority of iii Usulután pottery in the Uapala Ceramic Sphere was made locally, although the majority of regions within the sphere either exported or imported Usulután pottery in varying amounts. These patterns of production and distribution suggest that a combination of exchange and stylistic emulation lead to the Uapala Ceramic Sphere. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures………………………...……………………………….………………………….xi List of Tables…………………………..…………………………….…………………………..xv Acknowledgements…………………………………………………...……………………........xvi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………...…….………………..…1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….1 Research Objectives………………………………………...…...………………………..7 Trade and Exchange in Complex Societies.........................................................................8 Research Methodology……………………………………......………………………....13 Results……………………………………………………......…………………………..16 Thesis Organization……………………………………..…..…………………………...18 Chapter 2. USULUTÁN POTTERY……………………...……………………………………..21 Introduction………………………………………...………………………………….....21 Description and Characteristics……………………..……………………………….…..21 Method of Manufacture and History of Investigation……………..………………….…37 Type-Variety Description – Sharer’s Izalco Usulután: Izalco…….…………………….40 Usulután Pottery: Range, Types and Frequencies………………….…………………...43 El Salvador…………………………………………………………….…………………45 El Salvador – Chalchuapa………………………………………….………….....45 El Salvador – Santa Leticia…………………………………………….………...47 El Salvador – Quelepa…………………………………………………….……..49 Honduras………………………………………………………….….…………………..51 Honduras – Naco Valley…………………………………………………………51 Honduras – Lake Yojoa………………………………………………...……..…52 v Honduras – Ulua Valley………………………………………………………….53 Honduras – El Cajon………………………………………………………..……56 Honduras – Comayagua Valley…………………………………………….....…57 Honduras – Copan Valley…………………………………………………..……57 Guatemala…………………………………………………………………………..……60 Belize……………………………………….…………………………………………....61 Summary of Distribution and Sites of Manufacture…………………………………….62 Loci of Production………………………………………….…………………………....66 Context: Usulután Pottery Consumption………………………………………………...71 Type Variety and Modal Analysis of Usulután Pottery…………….…………………...73 Conclusion……………………………………………………….……………………...78 Chapter 3: THE UAPALA CERAMIC SPHERE: SITES AND REGIONS.….........….……….79 Introduction……………………………………………………………….……………..79 Interaction Sphere Concept................................................................................................79 Interaction Spheres and the Ceramic Sphere Concept.......................................................84 The Uapala Ceramic Sphere………………………………………………………….....88 The Uapala Ceramic Sphere: Regional Profiles……………………………………..….96 Comayagua Valley……………………………………………………....……....96 The Ulua Valley……………………………………………………………...…101 Lake Yojoa Region…………………………….…………………………….....108 Naco Valley…………………………………….……………………………....113 Santa Barbara Region……………………….……………………………….....116 El Cajon Region…………………………………………………………...……118 Copan and the Copan Valley...............................................................................121 El Salvador…………………………………………………………………………...…123 Santa Leticia………………………………………………………………….....123 vi Chalchuapa…………………………………………………………………..…126 Quelepa………………………………………………………………………....128 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..….130 Chapter 4: INAA AND PETROGRAPHY..................................................................................131 Introduction......................................................................................................................131 History of Petrographic Analysis and Current Methodology..........................................133 Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis: History and Methodology...........................136 The Early Years: 1960’s and 1970’s....................................................................137 The 1980’s...........................................................................................................144 The 1990’s...........................................................................................................157 Historical Overview – INAA...........................................................................................166 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................168 Chapter 5: METHODS................................................................................................................170 Introduction......................................................................................................................170 INAA with the Smithsonian/NIST Partnership...............................................................172 INAA Procedures – Smithsonian/NIST...........................................................................173 Smithsonian/NIST Sample Preparation and Irradiation......................................174 Smithsonian/NIST Statistical Procedures............................................................175 Recent Criticisms of INAA..............................................................................................179 A Dual Approach: Petrography and INAA......................................................................183 Summary of Dissertation Research Methodology...........................................................185 Preliminary Petrographic Research......................................................................185 The Analytical Sample: Spatial Extent................................................................186 Sampling Contexts...............................................................................................187 Vessel Form and Chronological Issues................................................................189 vii Sampling of Existing Collections in Honduras and the United States.................191 Sample Coding Protocol......................................................................................194 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................200 Chapter 6: USULUTÁN POTTERY IN THE NORTHERN UAPALA CERAMIC SPHERE..202 Introduction......................................................................................................................202 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Coding Database........................................................203 Coded Sherd Data Summary – All Sherds.......................................................................205 Coded Sherd Data Summary and Interpretation – Specific Types/Varieties...................208 Summary and Interpretation – Bolo Orange....................................................................208 Summary and Interpretation – Izalco Usulután...............................................................216 General Observations
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