Ceramic Interaction Spheres on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala: Neutron Activation Analysis of Pottery from the Santa Rosa Region

在美国国家科学基金会的支持下。劳拉·科萨科夫斯基和弗朗西斯科·贝利将向密苏里大学核反应堆的迈克尔·格拉斯科克博士提交美国中部地区的罐子碎片样本，以进行中子活化分析。他将提供痕量元素剖面，以确定原材料的相似性和可能涉及的来源数量。根据形状和装饰的相似性，这种方法可以确定陶器是在有限的地方生产的，还是被广泛生产的，广泛的地方生产表明了一种相对平等的社会组织形式，其中各个地区是独立和自给自足的。另一方面，集中生产表明广泛的受控制的贸易，往往是一种更有组织和等级的社会和政治组织形式。虽然玛雅人和阿兹特克人是史前中美洲最著名的文明，但考古学家已经了解到，在这个地区的其他地方也存在着类似的文明。特别关注的是危地马拉的太平洋沿岸，因为似乎发生了一个反复的国家兴衰循环。然而，这些实体的范围是一个激烈辩论的主题。一些研究人员根据陶瓷数据认为它们的空间尺度是相对有限的。其他人，如博士。Kosakowsky和Belli认为贸易网络是广泛的，并且基于对一种陶器的小样本的中子激活分析支持了这一假设。这个奖项将允许他们扩大他们的样本规模，包括其他种类的陶瓷。这些结果将为中美洲复杂社会的兴起提供新的见解，并将引起许多考古学家的兴趣。

With National Science Foundation support Drs. Laura Kosakowsky and Francisco Belli will submit pot sherd samples from Middle American sites to Dr. Michael Glascock at the University of Missouri nuclear reactor for neutron activation analysis. He will provide trace element profiles which will allow determination of raw material similarity and the likely number of sources involved. This approach permits one to determine whether pottery, which on the basis of shape and decoration appears similar, was in fact produced in a limited number of locations, or whether it was widely manufactured Widespread local production suggests a relatively egalitarian form of social organization in which individual areas are independent and self sufficient. Centralized production on the other hand indicates extensive controlled trade and often a form of more highly organized and hierarchical social and political organization. Although the Mayans and Aztecs are the best known prehistoric Middle American civilizations, archaeologists have learned that similar entities existed in other portions of this region. Particular attention has been focused on the Pacific coast of Guatemala because it appears that a repeating cycle of state rise and fall occurred. The areas extent of these entities however is a subject of lively debate. Some researchers, on the basis of ceramic data have argued that their spatial scale is relatively limited. Others, such as Drs. Kosakowsky and Belli believe that trade networks were extensive and have supported this scenario on the basis of neutron activation analysis of a small sample of one pottery type. This award will permit them to expand their sample size and to include other kinds of ceramics. The results will provide new insight into the rise of complex society in Middle America and will be of interest to many archaeologists.