Household Economic Organization and Community Integration: The Basis of Social Complexity in the Central Maya Lowlands

在中美洲荒凉的低地地区，史前玛雅人进化出了一种文明，产生了引人注目的大规模建筑，一个高度集中的阶级分层社会，并通过发达的贸易机制将大片地区整合在一起。尽管这一现象吸引了考古学家近一个世纪，但他们仍然不明白导致这种社会出现和维持的过程。安娜贝尔·福特博士在伯利兹的伯利兹河地区工作多年。基于广泛的调查和对回收材料的分析，她假设了一个经济专业化模型，在这个模型中，生活在略微不同的环境区域的家庭单位专注于略微不同的活动，然后在这些区域之间进行交易。她认为，这为玛雅人在这一地区的发展提供了潜在的基础。在国家科学基金会的支持下，福特博士将在一个她尚未详细研究的剩余区域挖掘一系列小型家庭遗址。这将使她的调查数据进入更广泛和更有意义的背景，并将为跨区域比较提供基础。她将进行大规模的水平暴露，以揭示整个家庭单位。陶瓷、燧石和黑曜石遗骸将被收集和分析，以解决三个主要问题：国内经济的特征；工艺生产、流通的种类、程度；以及地方、区域和跨区域交流的影响。由于“精英”和“农民”家庭都将包括在样本中，因此应该有可能确定这些策略如何与阶级相关。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。虽然考古学家已经挖掘了许多玛雅遗址，但主要的重点是大型仪式中心。福特博士专注于家庭结构的项目将有助于改善这种状况。该项目包括一名本科生，将有助于培养一名有前途的青年科学家。

In the inhospitable lowland regions of Middle America, prehistoric Mayan peoples evolved a civilization which produced dramatic large scale architecture, a highly centralized class stratified society and which integrated large areas through well developed trade mechanisms. Although this phenomenon has intrigued archaeologists for almost a century, they still do not understand the processes which led to the emergence and maintenance of this society. Dr. Anabel Ford has worked for many years in the Belize River area of Belize. Based on extensive survey and the analysis of recovered materials, she has postulated a model of economic specialization in which household units living in slightly different environmental zones focussed on slightly different activities and then traded across these zones. This, she believes, provides the underlying basis for Mayan development in this area. With NSF support, Dr. Ford will excavate a series of small household sites located in one remaining zone which she has not studied in detail. This will set her survey data into a broader and more meaningful context and will provide a basis for cross zone comparison. She will conduct large scale horizontal exposures to uncover entire household units. The ceramics, chert and obsidian remains will be collected and analyzed to address three major questions: the character of the domestic economy; the kinds and degree of craft production and distribution; and the influence of local, regional and inter-regional exchange. Since both "elite" and peasant" households will be included in the sample, it should be possible to determine how such strategies are related to class. This research is important for several reasons. Although archaeologists have excavated many Mayan sites, the primary focus has been on large ceremonial centers. Dr. Ford's project, which concentrates on household structures will help to remedy this situation. The project includes an undergraduate student and will contribute to the development of a promising young scientist.