Maya Ceramics Analysis

Seven compositional groups were identified from the site s civic ceremonial centre and two peripheral residential groups.

Maya ceramics analysis.

Ancient maya pottery brings together many of the archaeologists signally involved in the analysis and interpretation of ancient maya ceramics and offers new findings and state of the art thinking. Elite pottery usually in the form of straight sided beakers called vases used for drinking chocolate was placed in burials giving a number of survivals in good condition. Individual examples include the princeton va. The result is a book that serves both as a valuable resource for archaeologists involved in pottery classification analysis and interpretation and as an illuminating exploration of ancient maya culture.

The maya ceramics project smithsonian center for materials research and education has a growing database of chemical fingerprints of dozens of classic maya ceramic production sites. Maya ceramics are ceramics produced in the pre columbian maya culture of mesoamerica. At its height it was a densely populated culturally dynamic society with cities throughout the region that is now mexico belize guatemala and honduras. Pottery sherds the most abundant artifacts recovered from sites reveal much about artistic expression religious ritual economic systems cooking traditions and cultural exchange in maya society.

Selecting the clays first usually from local sources potters would then fold in different tempers or additives to achieve a desired consistency or aesthetic quality. In 2015 lacma s program in the art of the ancient americas embarked on the maya vase research project a fruitful collaboration with the museum s conservation center to conduct technical analysis of ancient maya ceramic vessels. The maya ceramic book of creation the trials of the popol vuh hero twins displayed on classic maya polychrome painted pottery first they entered the dark house. The process of creating ceramics involved many steps and different materials both local and imported.

All maya pottery was built by hand as opposed to on a potter s wheel. Ancient mayan pottery maya civilization is one of the great ancient civilizations of the world. The vessels used different colors sizes and had varied purposes. Vessels for the elite could be painted with very detailed scenes while utilitarian vessels were undecorated or much simpler.

For this research we are interested in reconstructing how ancient maya potters and painters made these vessels. The ancient maya produced a broad range of ceramics that has attracted concerted scholarly attention for over a century.