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Proquest Dissertations An analysis of caches from four sites in the Maya lowlands Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Maxwell, David Bruce Saxon, 1964- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 09/10/2021 10:50:23 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/290648 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text direct^ from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction Is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information CompaiQr 300 North Zed) Road, Ann Arbor MI 48I06-I346 USA 313/761^700 800/521-0600 AN ANALYSIS OF CACHES FROM FOUR SITES IN THE MAYA LOWLANDS by David Bruce Saxon Maxwell Copyright © David Bruce Saxon Maxwell 1996 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1996 UMI Nxunber: 9720568 Copyright 1996 by Maxwell, David Bruce Saxon All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9720568 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This micrororm edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by David Bruce Saxon Mascwell entitled An An^tTysis of Caches fron Four Sites in the Maya Lovlands and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy "//Ac William L. Date Michael B. Schiffer Date Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. ^ (Ul/ Dissertation Director Date STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This Dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requrements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to bonrowers under oiles of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reprodi^on of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this dissertation would have tieen impossible without the help and encouragement of a numt)er of people. First and foremost, my advisor, Pat Cullsert, is responsible for kindling my interest in Maya archaeology. Pat has always given freely of his time and expertise, and has provided me with a sounding board for ideas - both good and bad - over the years. It was also Pat who suggested the study of caches in the first place, and thus introduced me to a topic with an ovenvhelming, yet largely untouched, data base. Further, Pat's "insider's knowledge" of Tikal provided me with the opportunity to put caches and political history into a much broader perspective than would tie possible with virtually any other researcher. I would also like to acknowlege the other members of my dissertation committee, Bill Rathje and Mike Schiffer. While I saw Bill only infrequently over the years, his enthusiasm has always been contageous, and for that I am grateful. Mike's influence may be subtle throughout the dissertation, but it was his longtime work with formation processes that led me to Arizona in the first place, and his tutelage has led me to look at each aspect of the archaeological record in a different manner. Through the years, a number of other faculty members have contributed greatly to my understanding of anthropology in general, and archaeology in particular, and I would like to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to John Olsen, Jane Undenvood, Mary Ellen Mort>eck, and William Stini; although none of you were directly involved in my dissertation research, your knowledge of other aspects of anthropology have greatly influenced my thinking over the years. A number of fellow students have contributed in many ways to my ability to complete this work, as friends, supporters, providers of information, and critics. I would especially like to thank Angle Huxley, who constantly challenged me to improve; thanks also go to Adam Smith, Patti Cook, Brian McKee, Marie Neupert, Steve Nash, Todd Fenton, Chariie Stevens, Melissa McCormick, JefF Baker, Bill Walker, Axel Nielson, Donn Grenda, Art McWilliams, Chris Doolittle and Shelby Tisdale. Finally, I would like to humbly thank my family, my parents Thomas and Sheilah Maxwell, and especially my sister Susan. Without their constant and undying support and enthusiam, the achievement of this degree would have been categorically impossible. I owe you everything. I would also like to acknowledge the Department of Anthropology for their financial support over the years, both through teaching positions, teaching assistantships and scholarships; also the Graduate and Professional Student council for providing funding for conference travel, and the Graduate Student Research Fund, for supporting my travel to Guatemala. 5 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Thomas and Sheilah Maxwell, and to my sister Susan. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables 15 List of Figures 24 ABSTRACT 26 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 28 Introduction 28 Caches Defined 29 Caches versus burials 33 Caches versus storage pits 37 Caches versus hoards 39 Dedicatory and non-dedicatory caches 40 Expanding the Definition 42 The Need for a Regional Synthesis of Caches 43 The Data 45 CHAPTER 2: ANALYTICAL VARIABLES AND METHODS 46 Introduction 46 Temporal Variables 46 Spatial Variables 48 Definitions of Cache Contexts 50 Descriptive Variables 55 Methods 55 Cache Patterning 55 Material Type Analysis 56 Intrasite Patterning 58 Intersite Patterning 60 CHAPTER 3: INTRASITE PATTERNING AT TIKAL; THE NORTH ACROPOLIS .... 61 Introduction 61 Temporal Patterning 63 Preclassic Deposits 63 Middle Preclassic 64 Artifact Analysis 66 Lithic Artifacts 66 Marine Materials 66 Ceramics 66 Discussion: The Eariy Years of the North Acropolis 67 Late Preclassic 68 Artifact Analysis 70 Lithic Artifacts 70 Marine Materials 71 Terrestrial Fauna 72 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Human Remains 72 Ceramics 72 Discussion: The North Acropolis During the Late Preclassic 73 Early Classic 75 Cache Locations 76 Treatment and Descriptive Variables 77 Interior Deposits 79 Patterning by Context Type 81 Artifact Analysis 82 Lithic Artifacts 82 Marine Objects 89 Terrestrial Fauna 95 Human Remains 95 Ceramics 96 Censers 97 Copal 97 Seeds and Organics 97 Mosaic Elements 98 Summary: Eariy Classic Interior Deposits 98 Exterior Deposits 99 Patterning by Context Type 102 Artifact Analysis 109 Lithic Artifacts 109 Marine Objects 130 Terrestrial Fauna 176 Reptile Remains 178 Human Remains 183 Ceramics 186 Censers 190 Copal 190 Organics and Seeds 191 Mosaic Elements 191 Discussion: Tikal during the Eariy Classic 194 The Eariy Classic to Late Classic Transition 197 Late Classic I (Ik) 199 Interior Deposits 201 Patterning by Context Type 203 Artifact Analysis 206 Lithic Artifacts 206 Marine Materials 217 Terrestrial Fauna 248 Human Remains 250 Ceramics 251 Censers 252 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Copal 253 Organics and Seeds 254 Mosaic Elements 254 Discussion 255 Exterior Deposits 257 Treatment 259 Patterning by Context Type 259 Artifact Analysis 263 Lithic Artifacts 263 Marine Objects 271 Terrestrial Fauna 284 Human Remains 285 Ceramics 287 Censers 288 Mosaic Elements 288 Discussion 289 Late Classic II (Imix) 290 Interior Deposits 291 Patterning by Context Type 294 Artifact Analysis 296 Lithic Artifacts 296 Marine Materials 302 Terrestrial Faunal Remains 319 Human Remains 321 Ceramics 322 Censers 323 Copal 323 Organics and Seeds 324 Mosaic Elements 324 Discussion 325 Exterior Deposits 326 Treatment
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