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The Similarity Trap: Engineering the Greater-Caribbean, a Perspective from the Isthmo-Colombian Area

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The Similarity Trap: Engineering the Greater-Caribbean, a Perspective from the Isthmo-Colombian Area Journal of Caribbean Archaeology Copyright 2010 ISSN 1524-4776 THE SIMILARITY TRAP: ENGINEERING THE GREATER-CARIBBEAN, A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ISTHMO-COLOMBIAN AREA Alexander Geurds Faculty of Archaeology Leiden University P.O. Box 9515 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands [email protected] Laura N. K. Van Broekhoven National Museum of Ethnology Steenstraat 1 2300 AE Leiden The Netherlands [email protected] Abstract Macro-regional studies, such as the proposition to investigate mobility and exchange in the pan-Caribbean are dominated by an emphasis to study stylistic similarity in material cul- ture. For the specific case of the Isthmo-Colombian area we argue in this paper that ob- served lack of stylistic comparability, culture historically invariantly interpreted as socio- political disunity, is in fact far less determining than previously assumed. By drawing on lo- calized social dynamics from synchronic perspectives in central Nicaragua, and a discussion on recent interpretations of the semiotic form, opportunities for future explorations of the pan-Caribbean thesis are created. Résumé Les études macro-régionales, comme les travaux sur la mobilité et les échanges pan- caribéens, sont dominées par l’étude impérieuse des similitudes stylistiques dans la culture matérielle. Dans le cas spécifique de la région Isthmo-Colombienne, nous démontrons dans cet article que l’absence de comparabilité stylistique observée, généralement interprétée dans la tradition historique culturelle comme une désunion socio-politique, est en fait beau- coup moins déterminante que ce que l’on a pu penser jusqu’alors. En s’appuyant sur la dy- namique sociale locale, du point de vue synchronique, dans le Nicaragua central, et grâce au débat sur les interprétations récentes de la forme sémiotique, de nouvelles perspectives d’analyse de la thèse pan-caribéenne émergent. Resumen Estudios macro-regionales, como la proposición para investigar la movilidad y el intercambio en el pan-Caribe son dominados por un énfasis en estudiar la similitud estilística dentro de la cultura material. Para el caso específico de la zona Isthmo- Colombiana se argumenta en este ensayo que la observación de la falta de comparabilidad Journal of Caribbean Archaeology, Special Publication #3 2010 52 The similarity trap Geurds and Van Broekhoven estilística, tipicamente interpretado dentro del marco de la historia-cultural como falta de unidad socio-política, es en realidad mucho menos determinante que anteriormente pensado. Apoyándose en la dinámica social localizado desde la perspectiva sincrónica de la región central de Nicaragua, y una discusión sobre interpretaciones recientes de la forma semiótica, se crean oportunidades para futuras exploraciones de la tesis del Pan-Caribe. Introduction areas seemed a-historical and depersonal- ized. As a result, periodic reformulations of “We must not forget that an object is the culture area divisions of for example the best messenger of a world above Central America have resulted in many that of nature: one can easily see in names and minimally as many debates. an object at once a perfection and an absence of origin, a closure and Most recently a new refinement, the a brilliance, a transformation of life Isthmo-Colombian area, was proposed and into matter (matter is much more expanded upon in a few publications by magical than life), and in a word a John Hoopes and Oscar Fonseca (most silence which belongs to the realm relevant are Hoopes and Fonseca 2003; of fairytales.” Hoopes 2004, 2005). This proposal is (Barthes 1972:88 [1957]) based on multiple lines of evidence, princi- pally linguistics, genetics, art history and For decades, the definition of culture areas archaeology. Ideas on structures in Isthmo- has held a commanding conceptual grip on Colombian oral traditions are also invoked the study of the pre-Columbian Americas. in the analysis. The renewed regional defi- Almost all archaeological studies make ref- nition has enabled the inclusion of North- erence to it; symposia invariably use it in ern and Central Colombia as well as West- their titles; colleagues are identified by the ern Venezuela in the analysis, following Society for American Archaeology on the earlier suggestions by Helms (1979). This basis of their culture area of expertise; and model then makes a conscious effort to journals validate their raison d'être by fo- analyze Isthmo-Colombian iconography by cusing on a specific region (e.g., Revista bridging regions and periods to identify del Área Intermedia, Ancient Meso- several basic themes. It is an important america, Mesoamérica, and, albeit some- push forward in advancing our findings for what less explicit, the Journal for Carib- this region, but what remains problematic bean Archaeology). In short, the culture is that after identifying similarities and in- area is arguably the foundation on which terpreting them as indications of interaction studies rest seeking to understand the mo- or a mutual cultural background, a daunt- bility and exchange of material culture in ing amount of differences in material cul- the past. Archaeologists, however, have ture style and object categories remains to struggled to explicitly validate culture ar- be discussed. Seldom though are these dif- eas in light of the processual as well as ferences in material culture the focus of post-processual new directions that the dis- comparisons in Isthmo-Colombian ar- cipline took in the last four decades. When chaeological studies. We propose here that attempting to understand social meaning lack of similarity in material culture is not from material things, discussions of culture a reason to adjust or abandon definitions of Journal of Caribbean Archaeology, Special Publication #3 2010 53 The similarity trap Geurds and Van Broekhoven culture areas. Rather, it is our contention thematic overlap in oral tradition. Empha- that these differences were fundamental to ses are on links between northern and social interaction in the pre-Columbian southern Middle America (Cooke 2005), as Greater-Caribbean. Merely explaining sty- well between the insular Caribbean and the listic similarity in material culture as a re- tropical Lowlands of South America sult of sociopolitical and economic rela- (Boomert 2000). But other vectors of inter- tions of power is insufficient. Differences action are included as well. For example in material culture are actively maintained. comparative study of political complexity This point will be demonstrated, using the is a frequent topic of investigation (Cooke semiotic concept of abduction, through the et al 2003; Haller 2004; Helms 1979; Red- analysis of a local case study from central mond 1994). This may take the form of Nicaragua. Stylistic and formal homogene- settlement pattern analysis; examples can ity would be expected as a consequence of be found throughout the area, but with par- the close spatial distribution settlements in ticular abundance in Costa Rica, Panama, this local setting, yet instead significant and Colombia. Lastly, iconographic analy- differences are observed. This in turn holds sis is represented as well through studies implications for explorations of a Greater- that have looked at the identification and Caribbean thesis. By using a local focus in interpretation of painted and sometimes order to argue macro-regional interaction, incised or carved symbols on signifiers we conclude that the premise of inferring such as pottery, carved stone, metals as identity and social interaction out of simi- well as semi-precious stone.1 Additionally, larity in form is not only inconclusive, but lithics can be mentioned as an object cate- also incomplete. gory that still holds considerable potential for evidencing direct contact through com- Boundaries positional data analysis, that is, physically Approaches to contact and exchange in attested presence and directionality of ob- the wider Central American and Northern ject movement. The high contrasting geog- South American region have been designed raphy and ecology of Central America will principally by means of three foci: (a) ex- have co-determined how raw materials change patterns, including mobility of ma- were procured and to what degree technol- terial culture and agricultural practices ogy and exchange would have been locally throughout the area); (b) political complex- circumscribed. Central Nicaragua, the case ity, being development and contrast in hier- under review here, is exemplary in this re- archies of leadership throughout the area); gard, consisting of plains with rolling hills and (c) iconography and form of material as well as rugged mountainous terrain, culture, that is semiotic comparison of roughly following a southeast to northwest decorated ceramic and stone material). pattern. Combined, these foci feed into studies at- As mentioned, macro-regional studies on tempting to understand pre-Columbian in- the pre-Columbian past of Central America terregional connections in this southwest- have underscored a concern with interre- ern rim of the Caribbean Sea. Exchange gional ties, influences and interactions. analyses have generally indicated some Nicaragua has featured for some time in form of interaction within spheres of the this debate, starting with Julian Steward circum-Caribbean, based on similarity in including Nicaraguan indigenous cultures material culture, at times complemented by among the Circum Caribbean Tribes in his Journal of Caribbean Archaeology, Special Publication #3 2010 54 The similarity trap Geurds and Van
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