Open Journal of Archaeometry 2013; volume 1:e8 Examining changes in the organi- in the economic systems of pre-colonial mar- itime societies in Southeast Asia. The research Correspondence: Lisa C. Niziolek, The Field sation of earthenware production presented here fits into a larger body of work Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 60605 in a prehispanic Philippine polity examining the political economy of ancient trad- Chicago, IL, USA. ing polities in Southeast Asia (Andaya, 1995; Tel. +1.312.665.7426 - Fax: +1.312.665.7193. using laser ablation-inductively E-mail: [email protected] coupled plasma-mass Bacus and Lucero, 1999; Bronson, 1977; Junker, 1999; Manguin, 1991) and, in particular, the role Key words: Philippines, compositional analysis, spectrometry of specialised craft production in the develop- pottery, craft production, specialisation. ment of pre-modern complex societies (Brumfiel Lisa C. Niziolek and Earle, 1987; Costin, 1991, 2001, 2004; Costin Citation: Niziolek LC, 2013. Examining changes The Field Museum, Chicago, IL, USA and Wright, 1998; Hruby and Flad, 2007; in the organisation of earthenware production in Spielmann, 2002). Specifically, I use laser abla- a prehispanic Philippine polity using laser abla- tion-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrom- tion-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrome- try. In: RH Tykot (ed.), Proceedings of the 38th etry (LA-ICP-MS) to investigate changing pat- International Symposium on Archaeometry – Abstract terns of pottery production at Tanjay (A.D. 500- May10th-14th 2010, Tampa, Florida. Open Journal 1600), a coastal chiefdom in the central of Archaeometry 1:e8. Although significant historical research has Philippines that underwent significant growth in been done on traditional Southeast Asian king- the centuries before Spanish contact. Acknowledgments: I would like to thank Laura Junker, Laure Dussubieux, Mark Golitko, Deb doms and chiefdoms, little archaeological work Many anthropologists consider craft specialisa- tion a key element of the political economies of Green, and Anne Underhill for their assistance has been undertaken on changes in the econom- and expertise throughout this project, as well as ic systems of pre-colonial maritime societies in complex societies (Brumfiel and Earle, 1987; anonymous reviewers for their helpful com- Asia, especially on the role of specialised craft Costin, 2001, 2004), and archaeologists have ments. Any errors are solely those of the author. production in the development of pre-modern attempted to define forms of specialisation and This research was aided by a Provost Award and complex societies. This project examines their material correlates (Brumfiel and Earle, Dean’s Scholar Award from the University of changes in the organisation of earthenware pro- 1987; Costin, 1991; Sinopoli, 1988). Access to spe- Illinoisonly at Chicago; a Lester Armour Graduate duction in the prehispanic coastal polity of Tanjay cialised goods or services generally serves as a Student Fellowship from The Field Museum; and basis for economic, political, and ritual power for a Fellowship for East Asian Archaeology and Early in the Philippines (A.D. 500-1600). More than 250 History from the American Council of Learned earthenware pieces from six archaeological sites leaders competing to control aspects of produc- Societies, with funding from the Henry Luce from the Tanjay region were analysed using laser tion and distribution, such as raw materials,use prod- Foundation. Some assistance also was provided ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spec- ucts, transport, knowledge, and specialists them- by the National Science Foundation (grant no. trometry (LA-ICP-MS) at Chicago’s Field selves. Examples of specialised goods functioning 0320903) through the Elemental Analysis Facility Museum. Ceramic samples were drawn from two as political currency for elites include the produc- at The Field Museum. residential zones in central Tanjay, an elite neigh- tion of feathered-cloaks in Hawaiian chiefdoms Presented at the 38th International Symposium on borhood and a non-elite area; two secondary set- (Earle, 1997, 2002), the mining of chert and the Archaeometry – May 10th-14th 2010, Tampa, manufacture and distribution of stone tools at the tlements located several kilometers upriver; an Florida. upland, swidden farming site; and a contempora- Maya site of Colha (Shafer and Hester, 2000), and neous, and likely competing, coastal polity 40 km the production of bronze vessels in the late Shang This work is licensed under a Creative Commons down the coast from Tanjay. Initially, it was state in northern China (Underhill, 2002). The Attribution 3.0 License (by-nc 3.0). expected that changes in the pattern of earthen- agency of craft specialists likely plays an impor- ware production in the Tanjay region would tant, but often neglected, role in the organisation ©Copyright L. C. Niziolek, 2013 favour one scenario or the other – either contin- of production systems, and questions about the Licensee PAGEPress, Italy Open Journal of Archaeometry 2013; 1:e8 ued production at dispersed, local sites or social and economic gain of producers and their doi:10.4081/arc.2013.e8 increased specialised and centralised production. consumers need to be considered (Brumfiel, So far, however, the preliminary ceramic compo- 1998; Costin, 1998; Sinopoli, 1998). As Spielmann sitional evidence indicates that both scenarios (2002) points out, craft specialisation may not cialisation of pottery and metal goods. This seem to have been taking place duringNon-commercial the cen- only stem from political, economic, or environ- assumption, however, is based on limited empiri- turies prior to Spanish contact. Ceramic produc- mental pressure; increasing demands for socially cal evidence. tion appears to have continued on a local level, valued goods, such as fancy earthenware for ritu- Geochemical analysis, specifically LA-ICP-MS, with potters from each site making pottery to be al feasts (Junker and Niziolek, 2010), also may provides more rigorous testing of a key part of used by nearby inhabitants, but there also is evi- spur an increase in specialised craft production this hypothesis: that the production of earthen- dence that sites, such as the elite Tanjay neigh- (Spielmann, 2002). ware became increasingly specialised and cen- borhood, began to make ceramics expressly for Previous archaeological research suggests that tralised in prehispanic Tanjay. These changes are local consumption by elites and for foreign trade. the political economies of Tanjay and other possibly a function of leaders attempting to con- expanding maritime polities of Southeast Asia trol local access to craft goods used as political underwent changes in the early second millenni- currency in cementing local alliance networks um A.D., including increased foreign trade with necessary for foreign luxury goods trade. Introduction China, expansion of wealth circulation through However, they also might be the result of crafts- ritual feasting, and intensification of inter-polity people locating themselves at the polity center to Significant historical research has been done competition through slave-raiding and agricultur- exploit economic and social opportunities created on traditional Southeast Asian kingdoms and al intensification (Junker, 1993, 1999a, 1999b, by burgeoning trade at ports such as Tanjay, chiefdoms (Hall, 2011; Higham, 1989; Reid, 1999; 2003; Bacus, 1996, 1998; Gunn, 1997). These which provided domestic, ritual, and foreign Scott, 1994; Wolters, 1999), but only a few changes were likely accompanied by greater cen- goods to interior populations in exchange for archaeological projects have focused on changes tralisation of craft production and increased spe- exotic forest materials important in foreign trade. [page 36] [Open Journal of Archaeometry 2013; volume 1:e8] Technology & Provenance - Ceramics Sample description (six cm wide and five cm high). All ceramics used read: 7Li, 9Be, 11B, 23Na, 24Mg, 27Al, 29Si, 31P, 35Cl, 39K, A total of 289 earthenware samples (Table 1) were small sherds, each less than two cm wide. 44Ca, 45Sc, 49Ti, 51V, 53Cr, 55Mn, 57Fe, 59Co, 60Ni, 65Cu, from excavations and surveys at six sites in or Per EAF procedures (Dussubieux et al., 2007), for 66Zn, 75As, 85Rb, 88Sr, 89Y, 90Zr, 93Nb, 107Ag, 111Cd, near the Tanjay region (Figure 1) were analysed each sample, 10 ablation spots with a diameter of 115In, 118Sn, 121Sb, 133Cs, 137Ba, 139La, 140Ce, 141Pr, using LA-ICP-MS. Purposive sampling was used to 100 m and an acquisition time of 60 s consisting 146Nd, 147Sm, 153Eu, 157Gd, 159Tb, 163Dy, 165Ho, 166Er, select ceramics from sites representing a variety of nine replicates each were made. The clay 169Tm, 172Yb, 175Lu, 178Hf, 181Ta, 197Au, 206, 207, 208Pb, of ecological environments, sizes, and social matrix itself was targeted in various areas of each 209Bi, 232Th, and 238U. Of these 55 elements, 45 groups. These sites include the lowland sites of sherd with visible temper avoided as much as were used for statistical analysis. 7Li, 31P, 35Cl, 75As, Tanjay (including the Santiago Church and possible. Before analysis, each sherd was checked 88Sr, 107Ag, 111Cd, 137Ba, 178Hf, and 197Au were omit- Osmeña Park locales), Aguilar, and Mendieta; the for surface contamination and each spot was pre- ted because of concerns regarding precision and mountain site of Turco; and Bacong, in another ablated for several seconds before readings start- potential post-depositional alteration. Table 2 river