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

在 Kathleen Morrison 博士的指导下，Enrique Rodriguez-Alegria 先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。为了研究墨西哥城早期殖民时期陶器生产和利用的变化，他将检查那里的相关藏品，研究西班牙的档案材料，并协助密苏里大学反应堆设施进行粘土的中子活化分析。虽然西班牙人于 1521 年征服了墨西哥的阿兹特克城市特诺奇蒂特兰，并随后形成了由此创建的社会的最上层，但情况并不简单。征服者和被征服者之间的通婚很常见，西班牙人内部也发生了显着的社会分层。虽然文献证据对这一过程提供了一些见解，但许多细节尚不清楚，通过对墨西哥城住宅中出土的陶瓷材料的研究，可以获得重要的额外见解。征服之后，西班牙征服者立即开始从欧洲和中国进口服务船只。这些器皿与阿兹特克陶器不同，因为它们覆盖着白釉，并且具有符合欧洲口味的特殊形状。墨西哥土著立即开始模仿欧洲进口的形状和表面光洁度生产陶器。这些仿制品虽然与欧洲产品明显不同，但显然在墨西哥城的殖民地市场上受到了青睐。 Rodriguez-Alegria 先生将使用来自 12 个西班牙房屋的考古材料来解决有关谁消费不同进口类型以及谁使用西班牙进口产品的本土仿制品的基本问题。使用档案记录研究的因素包括所涉及家庭的移民或当地身份、印第安人作为配偶或仆人在家庭中的存在、家庭的经济财富以及家庭在征服或政府中的作用。进口和本土产品的使用应该揭示导致新西班牙新兴阶级结构的因素，以及印第安人在这一重要文物类别的生产和分配中的作用。这项研究将为同化和文化适应的过程提供新的线索，并产生许多考古学家和历史学家感兴趣的数据。它还将有助于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.