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“Charlie Chaplin” Figures of the Maya Lowlands

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“Charlie Chaplin” Figures of the Maya Lowlands RITUAL USE OF THE HUMAN FORM: A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE “CHARLIE CHAPLIN” FIGURES OF THE MAYA LOWLANDS by LISA M. LOMITOLA B.A. University of Central Florida, 2008 A thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2012 ©2012 Lisa M. Lomitola ii ABSTRACT Small anthropomorphic figures, most often referred to as “Charlie Chaplins,” appear in ritual deposits throughout the ancient Maya sites of Belize during the late Preclassic and Early Classic Periods and later, throughout the Petén region of Guatemala. Often these figures appear within similar cache assemblages and are carved from “exotic” materials such as shell or jade. This thesis examines the contexts in which these figures appear and considers the wider implications for commonly held ritual practices throughout the Maya lowlands during the Classic Period and the similarities between “Charlie Chaplin” figures and anthropomorphic figures found in ritual contexts outside of the Maya area. iii Dedicated to Corbin and Maya Lomitola iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase for the many opportunities they have given me both in the field and within the University of Central Florida. Their encouragement and guidance made this research possible. My experiences at the site of Caracol, Belize have instilled a love for archaeology in me that will last a lifetime. Thank you Dr. Barber for the advice and continual positivity; your passion and joy of archaeology inspires me. In addition, James Crandall and Jorge Garcia, thank you for your feedback, patience, and support; your friendship and experience are invaluable. Lastly, thank you Lucas Martindale-Johnson. You have become a confidant and sounding board that I cannot do without. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 The Function of Caches: Current Understanding and Debates ................................................... 2 Early Cache Analysis .............................................................................................................. 3 Current Cache Analysis .......................................................................................................... 4 Theory and Methodology in Use ................................................................................................ 6 The “Charlie Chaplin” Figure ..................................................................................................... 7 Description of “Charlie Chaplin” Style Variability ................................................................ 8 Issues with the Name .............................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER TWO: “CHARLIE CHAPLINS” IN THE MAYA REGION: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE............................................................................................................................. 11 Copán, Honduras....................................................................................................................... 13 Structure 4 ............................................................................................................................. 13 Copán Summary.................................................................................................................... 15 Chichén Itzá, Mexico ................................................................................................................ 17 High Priest’s Grave ............................................................................................................... 19 The Sacred Cenote ................................................................................................................ 22 Chichén Itzá Summary .......................................................................................................... 23 Uaxactun, Guatemala ................................................................................................................ 24 vi Structure A-1 ......................................................................................................................... 26 Temple B-VIII ...................................................................................................................... 28 Summary of Uaxactun .......................................................................................................... 30 Thompson’s “Charlie Chaplins” ............................................................................................... 31 Cahal Pichik, Belize .............................................................................................................. 34 Mound I ................................................................................................................................. 35 Hatzcap Ceel, Belize ............................................................................................................. 36 Pyramid Q ............................................................................................................................. 37 Pyramid M ............................................................................................................................ 40 Pyramid F .............................................................................................................................. 41 Camp 6 .................................................................................................................................. 43 Pyramid B ............................................................................................................................. 45 Pyramid A ............................................................................................................................. 46 Summary of Thompson’s Vaca Plateau Data ....................................................................... 48 San Jose, Belize ........................................................................................................................ 49 Summary of San Jose, Belize................................................................................................ 52 Piedras Negras .......................................................................................................................... 53 Structure J-1 .......................................................................................................................... 54 Structure O-13 ....................................................................................................................... 56 vii Cache O-13-13 ...................................................................................................................... 57 O-13-23 ................................................................................................................................. 58 Cache O-13-48 ...................................................................................................................... 59 Problematical “Charlie Chaplins” ......................................................................................... 60 Summary of Piedras Negras.................................................................................................. 61 Tikal, Guatemala ....................................................................................................................... 61 Structure 5D-22 ..................................................................................................................... 65 Structure 5D-26 ..................................................................................................................... 70 Structure 5D-34 ..................................................................................................................... 73 Tikal Summary...................................................................................................................... 75 Lamanai, Belize ........................................................................................................................ 76 Structure N10-43 ................................................................................................................... 78 Lamanai Summary ................................................................................................................ 80 K’axob, Belize .......................................................................................................................... 81 Structure 18 ........................................................................................................................... 83 K’axob’s “Triadic Cache” ..................................................................................................... 85 K’axob Summary .................................................................................................................. 86 Las Ruinas de Arenal, Belize .................................................................................................... 87 Plaza Group A ....................................................................................................................... 89 viii North Offering .....................................................................................................................
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