Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: Evaluating Northern Yucatec Influence in the Sibun Valley, Belize

在帕特里夏·麦克阿纳尼博士的监督下，埃莉诺·哈里森-巴克将分析从伯利兹锡本山谷的玛雅定居点考古发掘中收集的数据。这个山谷以其作为边疆区的地位而闻名，两个相互竞争的核心地区在政治上相互竞争：西边的北电和北边的尤卡坦。在经典末期过渡时期(公元700年-公元900年)，“玛雅心脏地带”的北电中心衰落，奇琴伊萨的地区中心通过沿着加勒比海扩展贸易网络，将其权力基础扩展到尤卡坦北部以外。在锡本河谷和东海岸的其他地方，修建了圆形神殿，类似于奇琴伊察的小型神殿。具有北方属性的陶瓷要么是当地生产的，要么是从北方进口的。在一些地方，已经确定了来自北部采购来源(包括墨西哥中部)的黑铁矿。哈里森-巴克在Sibun的研究通过对尤卡特式建筑和文物的技术分析，考察了边境地区的群体身份。这项研究旨在澄清建筑和物质文化的变化是纯粹的风格变化，还是代表着社会和经济组织的根本性转变，也许是因为古典时期结束时北方人进入山谷。最近对边疆地区身份的考古研究表明，物质景观中清晰的社会边界很难界定。为了解决边境地区社会身份的复杂性，将对来自三个具有圆形建筑的锡本山谷聚落(Pechtun Ha，Oshon和Obispo)的文物进行广泛的分析。哈里森-巴克对陶瓷和当地粘土样品进行的类型学分析构成了使用岩石学和仪器中子活化分析(INAA)进行矿物学和化学研究的基础。总而言之，这些结果提供了有关风格和技术变化的信息，并为区分本地和外国制造的陶器提供了基础。交换模式的本质是通过寻找大量黑铁矿样本进一步评估的。玛雅低地考古学中晚期经典过渡的年代学精炼是通过对不同级别的发掘进行密集的放射性碳测年而实现的。这项研究具有重大的智力价值，揭示了货物和思想的运动，以及边疆地区的人，同时促进了我们对深刻社会变革时期古代玛雅社会的总体理解。化学和成分分析的应用响应了对边疆考古学中理解社会身份和相互作用的更复杂方法的呼吁。开发的方法论方法探索了社会认同、风格和技术生产结构之间的重要关系，可以应用于世界各地的其他研究领域。在网上公布的所有结果将允许进行比较研究，并扩大该项目的公众知名度。参加专业会议和在被推荐的期刊上发表文章将把结果传达给更广泛的学术界。作者以及不同机构的研究生将在上述分析方法方面获得宝贵的培训。

Under the supervision of Dr. Patricia McAnany, Eleanor Harrison-Buck will analyze data gathered from archaeological excavations of Maya settlements in the Sibun Valley of Belize. This valley is notable for its position as a frontier zone, politically contested by two competing core areas"the Peten to the west and Yucatan to the north. During the Late-to-Terminal Classic transition (A.D. 700 - A.D. 900), Peten centers in the "Maya heartland" declined and the regional center of Chichen Itza extended its power base beyond northern Yucatan through an expanded trade network along the Caribbean. In the Sibun Valley and elsewhere along the eastern coast, circular-shrines were constructed, resembling smaller versions of those at Chichen Itza. Ceramics bearing northern attributes either were locally produced or imported from the north. At some locales, obsidian from northern procurement sources (including Central Mexico) has been identified. Harrison-Buck's research in the Sibun examines group identity in a frontier zone through technological analyses of Yucatec-style architecture and artifacts. This study aims to clarify whether changes in architecture and material culture are purely stylistic"pointing to local elite emulation of northern styles"or represent a fundamental shift in the social and economic organization, perhaps as a result of northern groups entering the valley at the end of the Classic period.Recent archaeological studies of identity in frontier zones suggest that crisp social boundaries in the material landscape are difficult to define. To address the complexities of social identity in a frontier zone, artifacts from three Sibun Valley settlements with circular architecture"Pechtun Ha, Oshon, and Obispo"will be subjected to an extensive program of analysis. Typological analysis of the ceramics and local clay sampling conducted by Harrison-Buck forms the basis of a mineralogical and chemical study using petrography and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Together, the results offer information regarding stylistic and technological changes and a basis for differentiating local and foreign-made pottery. The nature of exchange patterns is further evaluated by sourcing a large sample of obsidian. Chronological refinement of the Late-Terminal Classic transition in Maya Lowland archaeology is achieved through intensive radiocarbon dating of different levels of excavation.This research has significant intellectual merit, shedding light on the movement of goods and ideas, as well as people in a frontier zone, while advancing our general understanding of ancient Maya society during a period of profound social change. The application of chemical and compositional analyses answers the call for a more sophisticated approach to understanding social identity and interaction in frontier archaeology. The methodological approach developed, which explores important relationships between social identity, style and the fabric of technological production, can be applied to other study areas throughout the world. All results posted on the web will allow for comparative study and broaden the public visibility of the project. Participation in professional conferences and publication in refereed journals will communicate the results to the wider academic community. The author as well as graduate students at various institutions will gain valuable training in the methods of analysis mentioned above.