Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Investigating Classic Maya Ritual Economies: Figurines from Motul de San Jose, Guatemala

博士论文改进补助金：调查经典玛雅仪式经济：来自危地马拉莫图尔圣何塞的雕像

• 批准号: 0524955
• 负责人: Wendy Ashmore
• 金额: $ 1.19万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-04-01 至 2007-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0524955&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Grant; Investigating

Christina Halperin, under the supervision of Dr. Wendy Ashmore, will conduct a study on Classic Maya figurines from the Motul de San Jose polity, Guatemala. Clay figurines are hand-sized depictions of humans, animals, and supernatural beings and are often considered to have been used in rituals. The research will investigate the centralized or decentralized nature of figurine production and distribution systems at the civic-ceremonial site of Motul de San Jose and its surrounding satellite centers. It is proposed that centralized state control over figurine production indicates a corresponding control over the creation and dissemination of ritual objects and ideological symbols of identity. On the other hand, commoners and non-elite groups possess relatively more autonomy in the domains of religious and social expression if production and distribution systems are decentralized.Motul de San Jose is an ideal location for a figurine study because previous test-pitting has revealed preliminary evidence of figurine production and has uncovered over 1,800 figurine fragments from the site and four of its satellite centers. Building on this work, a geophysical survey and archaeological excavation program will target high probability areas of Motul de San Jose and a satellite center, Chakokot, to identify evidence of figurine production workshops. Laboratory analysis of iconographic and technical attributes will detect distribution and consumption patterns of figurines, and a chemical paste composition analysis (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis) will quantifiably assess relative differences in paste recipes and access patterns to non-local figurines. Together, these data will provide multiple lines of evidence for understanding figurine production and distribution systems in a regional context.The proposed research will contribute to an understanding of ritual items in the political economy of state societies. This study is in the position to challenge existing models of craft production because most models are based on a dichotomy of "prestige" and "utilitarian" items to the relative exclusion of non-prestige ritual objects. In addition, an examination of the economic nature of ritual objects like figurines sheds light on the ideological and social integration of a state system. The extent to which a state controls the procurement and dissemination of such objects provides one avenue for assessing the degree to which religious and social symbols were state-integrated or state-imposed.The dissertation research will broaden the graduate student training of the co-PI (Halperin) and help train at least one Guatemalan student in the methods and techniques of archaeology. Currently, a great deal of interest in the ancient Maya exists in the town of San Jose where the archaeological portion of the work is to be conducted. Some of the Itza Maya women in the town have noted that they would like to start a women's organization revolving around traditional crafts and knowledge. The documentation of ancient Maya craft production and distribution systems and the dissemination of this knowledge (by interacting with community members and providing photographs and archaeological reports to town officials and the local library) will bring greater awareness of past practices that are a concern to contemporary Maya peoples.

克里斯蒂娜Halperin，在温迪阿什莫尔博士的监督下，将进行一项研究的经典玛雅雕像从Motul德圣何塞政体，危地马拉。 泥人是手掌大小的人类、动物和超自然生物的雕像，通常被认为是用于仪式。 该研究将调查在圣何塞及其周边卫星中心的城市仪式场所的小雕像生产和分配系统的集中或分散性质。 有人认为，国家对雕像生产的集中控制表明了对仪式物品和身份意识形态象征的创造和传播的相应控制。 另一方面，如果生产和分配系统分散，平民和非精英群体在宗教和社会表达领域拥有相对更多的自主权。圣何塞是研究小雕像的理想地点，因为以前的测试坑已经揭示了小雕像生产的初步证据，并从该网站及其四个卫星中心发现了1,800多个小雕像碎片。 在这项工作的基础上，一项地球物理调查和考古挖掘计划将针对圣何塞的高概率地区和一个卫星中心Chakokot，以确定小雕像生产作坊的证据。 图像和技术属性的实验室分析将检测小雕像的分布和消费模式，化学糊剂成分分析（仪器中子活化分析）将量化评估糊剂配方和非本地小雕像访问模式的相对差异。 总之，这些数据将为理解区域背景下的雕像生产和分配系统提供多条证据，拟议的研究将有助于理解国家社会政治经济中的仪式项目。 这项研究是在挑战现有的工艺生产模式，因为大多数模式是基于一个二分法的“声望”和“功利”的项目，相对排除非声望仪式对象。 此外，对俑等礼器的经济性质的考察，有助于揭示国家制度的意识形态和社会整合。 在何种程度上，一个国家控制采购和传播这些对象提供了一个途径，以评估宗教和社会象征的程度是国家集成或国家强加的。论文研究将扩大共同PI（Halperin）的研究生培训，并帮助培训至少一名危地马拉学生在考古学的方法和技术。 目前，在圣何塞镇，人们对古玛雅有很大的兴趣，那里将进行考古工作。 该镇的一些伊察玛雅妇女指出，她们希望围绕传统工艺和知识建立一个妇女组织。 记录古代玛雅工艺品生产和销售系统以及传播这一知识（通过与社区成员互动以及向城镇官员和当地图书馆提供照片和考古报告），将使人们更多地了解当代玛雅人关切的过去做法。