Monumentality of the Bagaces and Sapoá Periods at the Site of El Rayo Granada, Nicaragua
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020-06-09 Constructing the Past: Monumentality of the Bagaces and Sapoá Periods at the Site of El Rayo Granada, Nicaragua Rice, Shaelyn Jae Rice, S. J. (2020). Constructing the Past: Monumentality of the Bagaces and Sapoá Periods at the Site of El Rayo Granada, Nicaragua (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary. AB. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112229 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Constructing the Past: Monumentality of the Bagaces and Sapoá Periods at the Site of El Rayo Granada, Nicaragua by Shaelyn Jae Rice A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ARCHAEOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA JUNE 2020 © Shaelyn Jae Rice 2 Abstract Monumentality in the Intermediate Area has been a poorly explored avenue of analysis in favour of the more structurally impressive, vertically standing examples from Mesoamerican and Andean societies. Though specific countries in the Intermediate Area, such as Costa Rica, have been discussed in terms of architectural achievement and present examples of monumentality, Nicaragua, and by extent the Greater Nicoyan subregion, has been overlooked. This thesis looks to the lake shore site of El Rayo, on Lake Nicaragua, to overview the architectural features represented at the site over the course of four field seasons during the PAGN project. Differentiation between monument, memorials, and monumental memorials are discussed, and the known built forms at El Rayo, including structures, shrines, cache boxes, and standing stones, are detailed and evaluated. In total, 13 architectural features are detailed, dating from the Bagaces (500-800 AD) period to the Sapoá (800-1300 AD) period. Included in this thesis is an architectural energetics assessment of the four structural remains excavated at El Rayo. Keywords: Architecture, Architectural Energetics, Bagaces Period, Greater Nicoya, Intermediate Area, Monumentality, Nicaragua, Sapoá Period 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor and mentor Dr. Geoffrey McCafferty of the University of Calgary for his endless support and guidance throughout the writing process. Dr. McCafferty was always available to help me surmount the problems surrounding this thesis as they arose. His dedicated support during the writing process was invaluable to me. Furthermore, I would like to thank him for introducing me to Pacific Nicaraguan archaeology and inviting me to join the PAGN 2015 field project. For their suggestions and support, I would like to thank my thesis defence committee members, Dr. Geoffrey McCafferty, Dr. Elizabeth Paris, and Dr. Warren Wilson. Their constructive advice and comments both during my defence and in the following months were essential to the improvement of this thesis. I would also like to extend my thanks and endless appreciation to the members of the PAGN 2015 and PAGN 2016 excavations, without whom this research would not be available. The friends made and learning experiences gained during these field seasons shall never be forgotten. A special thank you to Sharisse McCafferty, for her guidance in the field and laboratory. You have taught me a great deal. Finally, to my family and friends, who have stuck by my side these past years, I cannot thank you enough. Thank you for your endless love and support. Without you, I would not have finished this thesis. To my step-dad, I would like to thank and recognize his time taken to help me edit my thesis. 4 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 3 Table of Contents 4 List of Figures 10 List of Tables 13 Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction 15 Research Question 19 Chapter Summaries 20 Chapter 2: Theoretical Approach Introduction 23 The Built Environment and Architecture 23 Monumentality 25 Defining Monumentality and Memorialization 27 Collective Agreement versus Political Control 30 Thermodynamics and Monumentality 33 Architectural Energetics and Monumentality 36 Intermediate Area and Monumentality 39 Place and Monumentality 40 Domestic versus Non-Domestic Architecture 41 Chapter Summary 43 Chapter 3: Geographic and Climatic Setting Introduction 45 Geographic and Climatic Setting 45 Climate Zones 45 Nicaraguan Depression 48 Mombacho Volcano 49 El Rayo 50 Chapter Summary 53 Chapter 4: Cultural and Ethnographic Background Introduction 55 Cultural Setting 55 Greater Nicoya 55 Migration and Linguistic Sources 58 Ethnohistoric Sources 61 5 Regional Chronology of Greater Nicoya 62 Ethnohistoric Background 63 Ethnohistorical Architecture 68 Chapter Summary 74 Chapter 5: Archaeological History of Greater Nicoya Introduction 75 Archaeological Research 75 Archaeology of the 19th Century 76 Archaeology of the 20th Century 80 Archaeology of the 1990s and 21st Century 82 Comparative Archaeological Sites 84 Ayala 85 Aguas Buenas 86 Los Angeles 87 Nejapa 87 Santa Isabel 88 Sonzapote 89 Tepetate 89 Tisma 90 Chapter Summary 90 Chapter 6: Methodological Approaches Introduction 92 Burial Elements of El Rayo 93 Field Methods 96 2009/2010 Field Seasons 96 Shovel Testing Work 97 Locus 2 99 2015/2016 Field Seasons 99 Locus 2 100 Locus 3 101 Locus 4 101 Locus 5 103 Locus 6 103 Locus 7 104 Analytical Methods 104 Laboratory Methods 104 Inventory and Artifact Cleaning 105 Labelling and Cataloguing 107 Chronology 108 Architectural Energetics 110 Chapter Summary 111 6 Chapter 7: Data Analysis Introduction 112 Locus 2 113 Bagaces Period Architecture 116 2009 Season, Operation 4 116 2010 Season, Operation A 117 2010 Season, Operation D 118 2016 Season, Operation G 118 Sapoá Period Architecture 119 2010 Season, Operation B 119 2010 Season, Operation C 120 2009 Season, Operation 3 121 Locus 3 122 Locus 4 123 2015 Season, Operation 1 124 2015 Season, Operation 2 127 2016 Season, Operation A 129 2016 Season Operation B 129 Miscellaneous 130 Locus 5 130 Locus 6 131 Locus 7 133 Artifact Assemblage 135 Activity Pattern at Locus 4 136 Step A) Recording Artifact Locations 137 Lithics 138 Net Sinkers 138 Figurines 139 Ceramic Balls 139 Plainware Ceramics 140 Miscellaneous 140 Step B) Function of Objects 141 Awls 141 Burnishing Stones 141 Ceramic Balls 141 Colanders 142 Cores 142 Drills 142 Figurines 142 Incised Bones 142 Mano Fragments 142 Needle 143 Net Sinkers 143 7 Pecking Stone 143 Point 143 Prismatic Blades 143 Scrapers 143 Step C) Relationship between Objects 143 Step D) Activity Pattern 144 Chapter Summary 145 Chapter 8: Discussions Introduction 147 Understanding Monumentality and Memorialization at El Rayo 147 Architectural Features at El Rayo 150 Architectural Features 1 and 3 151 Architectural Feature 2 152 Architectural Feature 4 152 Architectural Features 5 and 10 153 Architectural Feature 6 154 Architectural Feature 7 154 Architectural Features 8, 9, and 13 155 Architectural Feature 11 157 Architectural Feature 12 158 Architectural Energetics Models 160 Architectural Energetics Model of ER-S3 160 Architectural Energetics Model of ER-S1 165 Architectural Energetics Model of ER-S2 168 Architectural Energetics Model of ER-S4 171 Extrapolating Architectural Energetics Models to Proposed Circular Structure 173 Comparing ER-S3 to ER-S1, ER-S2, and ER-S4 176 Chapter Summary 179 Chapter 9: Comparative Sites Introduction 182 Comparative Sites in Nicaragua 182 Ayala, Tisma, and Santa Isabel 183 Sonzapote, Zapatera Island 186 Tepetate, Granada City 189 Nejapa, Managua 191 Los Angeles, Ometepe Island 193 Aguas Buenas, Chontales 193 Summary of Nicaraguan Sites 194 Comparative Sites Costa Rica 196 Arenal Area 196 Cemeteries of the Arenal Area 197 Sitio Bolívar Structures 199 8 Guayabo de Turrialba, Costa Rica 200 Structural Overview 201 The Causeway 203 Mounds 1 and 28 204 Papagayo, Costa Rica 204 Structure 2 205 Structure 3 206 Mortuary Features 206 Rivas-Panteón de la Reina, Costa Rica 208 Structure 1, Operation A 209 Operations D and E 210 Comparing El Rayo to Rivas-Panteón de la Reina 212 Summary of Costa Rican Sites 213 Summary 214 Chapter 10: Conclusions Introduction 217 Future Research 227 Appendix A Table 1: 2015 Lithic Tools 230 Table 2: 2015 Lithic Debitage and Tools by Material Type 230 Table 3: 2015 Decorative Body Sherds 231 Table 4: 2015 Ceramic Rim Sherd Count by Decorative Features 232 Table 5: 2015 Applique Ceramic Fragments 232 Table 6: 2015 Ceramic Colander Fragments 232 Table 7: 2015 Ceramic Base Fragments 233 Table 8: 2015 Ceramic Net Sinkers 234 Table 9: 2015 Worked Ceramic Sherds 234 Table 10: 2015 Ceramic Supports 235 Table 11: 2015 Ceramic Handle Fragments 236 Table 12: 2015 Ornamentation 236 Table 13: 2015 Ceramic Balls 237 Table 14: 2015 Faunal Remains 238 Table 15: 2015 Worked Bone 239 Table 16: 2015 Figurine Fragments 239 Table 17: 2015 Adorno Fragments 240 Appendix B Table 1: 2016 Lithic Tools 241 Table 2: 2016 Lithic Debitage and Tools by Material Type 241 Table 3: 2016 Ceramic Rim Sherd Count by Decorative Features 241 Table 4: 2016 Applique Ceramic Fragments 242 Table 5: 2016 Ceramic Colander Fragments 242 Table 6: 2016 Ceramic Base Fragments 242 9 Table