Dissertation Research: Comparative Household Archaeology in the Zapotitan Valley, El Salvador

在T. Patrick Culbert博士的指导下，Brian McKee先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他的研究重点是比较两个考古遗址，Ceren和San Andres，都是在古典时期，位于萨尔瓦多的Zapotitan山谷。这些遗址在区域聚落系统中的位置和保存方面都有所不同。塞伦在中美洲是独一无二的，因为它代表了庞贝的情况。这个小村庄被埋在火山灰的保护层下。虽然大多数（虽然不是全部）居民在灾难性的火山爆发之前有时间逃离，但他们能够带走的财产很少。精致的有机材料，如储藏葫芦，保存得很好，物品被留在它们使用过的地方。因此，该场地为物质文化的范围和空间分布提供了无与伦比的洞察力。在他们的活动过程中，塞伦人丢弃了不再使用的物品，并发现了与许多中美洲遗址中保存的类似的垃圾坑。毗邻圣安德烈斯的居民很可能拥有一系列物质文化和生活方式，在大多数基本要素上，与他们的Ceren同时代人相似。然而，圣安德烈斯没有受到类似的火山力量的影响，放弃的过程更加缓慢。因为被丢弃的物品不是突然被掩埋的，所以保存的质量也不高。因此，对两个遗址的比较和系统差异的确定可以让科学家们深入了解通过挖掘回收的材料的遗弃性质和遗弃后的变化。可能从掩埋的垃圾沉积物中回收的材料也会类似。假设是这样的话，与房屋地板和周围表面有关的遗骸的差异将特别具有启发性。尽管在Ceren进行了多年的研究，但人们对圣安德烈斯知之甚少。麦基先生将对后一个地点进行系统的挖掘。在地面调查之后，将进行测试程序和对回收的文物进行分析。除了提供对保存和放弃过程的深入了解之外，这些数据还将允许对农村腹地和政治中心进行比较。这些信息将引起许多考古学家的兴趣，并有助于培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. T. Patrick Culbert, Mr. Brian McKee will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. His research focuses on a comparison between two archaeological sites, Ceren and San Andres, both occupied during the Classic Period and located in the Zapotitan Valley, El Salvador. The sites differ in terms of both position in a regional settlement system and of preservation. Ceren is unique in Middle America because it represents a Pompei like situation. The small rural village is buried under a protective layer of volcanic ash. Although most (although not all) inhabitants had time to flee before the cataclysmic volcanic eruption, they were able to take few of their possessions with them. Delicate organic materials such as storage gourds are well preserved and objects were left where they were used. The site therefore provides unparalleled insight into the range and spatial distribution of material culture. In the course of their activities, the Ceren people discarded objects which were no longer of use and trash pits similar to those preserved in many Middle American sites were discovered. It is very likely that the inhabitants of adjacent San Andres had a range of material culture and way of life similar, in most essentials, to their Ceren contemporaries. San Andres however was not subject to similar volcanic forces and abandonment occurred in a more gradual manner. Because discarded objects were not suddenly buried, preservation is not of the same high quality. Therefore a comparison of the two sites and a determination of systematic differences can give scientists insights into the nature of abandonment and post abandonment changes which pattern materials recovered through excavation. Likely material recovered from buried trash deposits will be similar. Assuming such to be the case, the differences in remains associated with house floors and surrounding surface areas will be particularly instructive. Although research has been conducted at Ceren for many years, much less is known about San Andres. Mr. McKee will conduct systematic excavations at this latter site. A surface survey will be followed by a testing program and analysis of recovered artifacts. In addition to providing insight into preservation and abandonment processes, the data will allow for a comparison between rural hinterland and political center. The information will be of interest to many archaeologists and assist in training a promising young scientist.