Artifacts from the Cenote of Sacrifice, Chichen Itza, Yucatan: Textiles, Basketry, Stone, Bone, Shell, Ceramics, Wood, Copal, Rubber, other Organic Materials, and Mammalian Remains

In this abundantly illustrated third and final volume on the artifacts found by Edward H. Thompson in the Well of Sacrifice, specialists analyze the great variety of objects and debate whether they represent evidence of dateable prehistorical ritual. The collection includes the rare remains of hundreds of textiles, wooden objects, and copal incense offerings that were preserved in the waters of this limestone sinkhole, as well as the lithics, ceramics and bone and shell artifacts commonly found in Maya burials and caches and about 250 mammalian remains. These objects are remarkable for having been cut, torn, broken, and burned before they were thrown into the green waters of the sacred well at Chichen Itza.
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Artifacts from the Cenote of Sacrifice, Chichen Itza, Yucatan: Textiles, Basketry, Stone, Bone, Shell, Ceramics, Wood, Copal, Rubber, other Organic Materials, and Mammalian Remains

In this abundantly illustrated third and final volume on the artifacts found by Edward H. Thompson in the Well of Sacrifice, specialists analyze the great variety of objects and debate whether they represent evidence of dateable prehistorical ritual. The collection includes the rare remains of hundreds of textiles, wooden objects, and copal incense offerings that were preserved in the waters of this limestone sinkhole, as well as the lithics, ceramics and bone and shell artifacts commonly found in Maya burials and caches and about 250 mammalian remains. These objects are remarkable for having been cut, torn, broken, and burned before they were thrown into the green waters of the sacred well at Chichen Itza.
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Overview


In this abundantly illustrated third and final volume on the artifacts found by Edward H. Thompson in the Well of Sacrifice, specialists analyze the great variety of objects and debate whether they represent evidence of dateable prehistorical ritual. The collection includes the rare remains of hundreds of textiles, wooden objects, and copal incense offerings that were preserved in the waters of this limestone sinkhole, as well as the lithics, ceramics and bone and shell artifacts commonly found in Maya burials and caches and about 250 mammalian remains. These objects are remarkable for having been cut, torn, broken, and burned before they were thrown into the green waters of the sacred well at Chichen Itza.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780873656948
Publisher: Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University
Publication date: 12/28/2004
Series: Peabody Museum Memoirs Series , #10
Pages: 408
Product dimensions: 8.58(w) x 11.88(h) x 0.82(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword by Gordon R. Willey

Acknowledgments

Contributors

1. The Sacred Well of the Itzaes

Edward H. Thompson

Topography of the Region About Chichen ltza

Chichen ltza

Description of Chichen Itza

Topography of Chen Ku, the Sacred Well

Etymology of Chen Ku

Traditions and Accounts of the Sacred Well

The Strange Visitor

Notes

References

2. Dredging the Cenote

Clemency Chase Coggins

Thompson's Early Work in Yucatan

Chichen ltza: Hacienda and Archaeological Site

Dredging the Cenote: 1904 to 1905

Dredging the Cenote: 1906 to 1907

Dredging and Diving in the Cenote: 1908 to 1909

The End of Work in the Cenote: 1910 to 1922

The Years 1923 to 1944

Mexican Work in the Cenote

Publication of the Artifacts from the Cenote

Notes

References

3. Textiles

Joy Mahler Lothrop

The Textiles

Thompsons References to the Textiles

Previous Studies of the Cenote Textiles

Method Used in Analysis

Limiting Factors

Age of the Textiles

Specimens of Cenote Textiles in Other Museums

General Considerations

Fibers

Spinning

Spindle Whorls

Other Weaving Tools

Dyes

End and Side Selvages

Technical Analysis

Plain Weaves Grouped by Yarn Structure

Techniques Other Than Unadorned Plain Weaves

Summary and Conclusions

Notes

Appendix 3.A: Basic Data on all Measurable Specimens

References

4. Basketry, Twined Sandal Soles, and Cordage

Jill J. Mefford

Basketry

Sandal Soles

Cordage

Notes

References

5. Objects of Stone, Shell, and Bone

Hattula Moholy-Nagy and John M. Ladd

Description of the Collection and Comparisons with Other Sites

Stone: Pecked, Ground, Polished, and Unworked

Shell: Extensively Worked, Original Form Largely Preserved, and Unworked

Other Marine Invertebrates

Marine Vertebrates

Other Bone: Worked and Unworked

Social Contexts of the Collection

Materials Associated with High Social Rank

Materials Associated with Intermediate Social Rank

Materials Associated with Low Social Rank

Unique or Undiagnostic Materials

Accidental Inclusions

Areas of Origin

Estimated Time Spans of Use

Comparisons with Other Cenote Sites

Cenote Xlacah

Other Cenote Sites

Summary and Conclusions

Notes

Appendix 5.A: Obsidian Hydration Report

Fred Trembour

References

6. Chipped-Stone Artifacts

Payson D. Sheets, John M. Ladd, and David Bathgate

The Collection

Large Bifaces

Tanged Bifaces

Side-notched Bifaces

Corner-notched Bifaces

Lanceolate Bifaces

Unclassified Bifacially Flaked Fragments

Bifacial Thinning Flakes

General Microcrystalline Debitage

Obsidian Debitage

Obsidian Prismatic Blades

Obsidian Polyhedral Cores

Conclusions

Comments on a Preliminary Analysis of Cenote Lithics

Observations on Cenote Lithics

Comparison of Cenote Xlacah at Dzibilchaltun and the Chichen ltza Cenote

Comparison of Mayapan and Chichen ltza Cenote Lithics

Chichen ltza Cenote and Tula Lithic Artifact Comparisons

Cenote Lithics Compared with Zaculeu Lithics

Similarities with Quelepa, El Salvador

General Comments

Appendix 6.A: Hydration Dating of Obsidian Artifacts from the Sacred Cenote, Chichen ltza

Fred Trembour

Appendix 6.B: Hydration Analysis of Non-Cenote Obsidian from Two Surface Localities, Chichen Itza

Fred Trembour

Appendix 6.C: Use-Wear Analysis of Chipped-Stone Tools

April K. Sievert

References

7. Ceramics

Joseph W Ball and John M. Ladd

Study of the Collection

Analysis

Summary

Catalogue

Whole and Nearly Whole (Broken) Vessels

Fragmentary Vessels and Sherds

Notes

Appendix 7.A: Occurrences of Types Organized by Ceramic Complex

References

8. Wooden Artifacts

Clemency Chase Coggins and John M. Ladd

Catalogue

Ear(?) Ornaments

Weapon Assemblage

Handheld Objects

Effigies

Perforated Ornaments(?)

Implements

Miscellaneous

Discussion of the Wood Collection

Condition and Preservation

Types of Wood

Woodworking

Coatings

Destructive Activity

Purpose and Dating of Cenote Ritual

Notes

References

9. Copal and Rubber Offerings

Clemency Chase Coggins and John M. Ladd

Copal

The Collection

Discussion

Rubber

Notes

References

10. Miscellaneous: Palm Nut Artifacts, Decorated Gourds, Leather, and Stucco

Palm Nut Artifacts

Hattula Moholy-Nagy And John M. Ladd

Decorated Gourds

Clemency Chase Coggins and John M. Ladd

Leather

Clemency Chase Coggins and John M. Ladd

Stucco

Clemency Chase Coggins

Notes

References

11. Mammalian Remains

Mary Randolph Hopkins

The Cenote as a Depositional Environment

Catalogue of the Collection

Marsupialia

Insectivora

Chiroptera

Edentata

Lagomorpha

Rodentia

Carnivora

Perissodactyla

Artiodactyla

Unidentified

Summary

Notes

References

12. Conclusions

Clemency Chase Coggins

References

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