Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Class Stratification and Ceramics in Colonial Mexico

在凯瑟琳·莫里森博士的指导下，恩里克·罗德里格斯-阿雷格里亚先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。为了研究早期殖民墨西哥城陶器生产和利用的变化，他将检查那里的相关收藏品，研究西班牙的档案材料，并在密苏里大学反应堆设施协助进行粘土的中子活化分析。虽然西班牙人在1521年征服了阿兹特克城墨西哥-特诺奇蒂特兰，并随后形成了由此产生的社会最高阶层，但情况并不直接。征服者和被征服者之间的通婚很常见，在西班牙人内部也发生了重大的社会分层。虽然文献证据为这一过程提供了一些见解，但许多细节尚不清楚，通过对墨西哥城居民出土的陶瓷材料的研究，可以获得重大的额外见解。征服后不久，西班牙征服者开始从欧洲和中国进口服务器皿。这些器皿与阿兹特克陶器不同，因为它们上面覆盖着白釉，具有迎合欧洲人口味的特殊形状。墨西哥本土人立即开始生产陶器，模仿欧洲进口的陶器的形状和表面光洁度。尽管这些仿制产品与欧洲产品明显不同，但显然在墨西哥城的殖民市场上获得了青睐。Rodriguez-Aregria先生将利用12所西班牙房屋的考古材料，回答与谁消费不同类型的进口产品以及谁使用西班牙进口的本土仿制品有关的基本问题。要利用档案记录研究的因素包括所涉家庭的移民或当地身份、作为配偶或仆人的印度人在家庭中的存在、家庭的经济财富以及家庭在征服或在政府中的作用。进口和本土产品的使用应该有助于揭示导致新西班牙出现阶级结构的因素，以及印第安人在这一重要文物类别的生产和分配中所起的作用。这项研究将为同化和文化适应过程提供新的线索，并产生许多考古学家和历史学家感兴趣的数据。它还将帮助培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Morrison, Mr. Enrique Rodriguez-Alegria will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. To examine the changes in pottery production and utilization in early colonial Mexico City, he will examine relevant collections there, study archival material in Spain and assist in neutron activation analysis of clay at the University of Missouri reactor facility. While the Spanish conquered the Aztec city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan in 1521 and subsequently formed the uppermost stratum in the society thus created, the situation was not straightforward. Intermarriage between conqueror and conquered was common and within the Spanish themselves significant social stratification took place. While documentary evidence provides some insight into this process, many details are unknown and through the study of ceramic material excavated from Mexico City residences significant additional insight can be attained.Immediately after the conquest Spanish conquistadors began to import serving vessels from Europe and China. These vessels were different from Aztec pottery because they were covered with a white glaze and had specialized shapes that pleased European tastes. Indigenous Mexicans immediately began producing pottery in imitation of the form and surface finish of European imports. These imitation types, although recognizably different from the European products, apparently gained favor in the colonial market in Mexico City. Using archaeological material from 12 Spanish houses Mr. Rodriguez-Alegria will address basic questions related to who consumed different imported types and who used indigenous imitations of Spanish imports. Among the factors to be studied using archival records are the immigrant or local status of the families involved, the presence of Indians in the household as spouses or servants, the financial wealth of the families, and the role of the family in the conquest or in government. The use of imported and indigenous products should shed light on the factors which led to emerging class structure in New Spain and the role of Indians in the production and distribution of this significant artifact class.This research will shed new light on the process of assimilation and acculturation and produce data of interest to many archaeologists and historians. It will also assist in training a promising young scientist.