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

Christina Halperin，在Wendy Ashmore博士的指导下，将对危地马拉Motul de San Jose政体的经典玛雅雕像进行研究。泥塑是手大小的人类、动物和超自然生物的描绘，通常被认为是在仪式中使用的。该研究将调查Motul de San Jose的公民仪式地点及其周边卫星中心的雕像生产和分配系统的集中或分散性质。有人提出，国家对雕像生产的集中控制意味着对仪式物品和身份的意识形态符号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。Motul de San Jose是研究雕像的理想地点，因为之前的测试点已经揭示了雕像生产的初步证据，并从现场及其四个卫星中心发现了1800多个雕像碎片。在这项工作的基础上，地球物理调查和考古挖掘计划将针对Motul de San Jose的高概率地区和Chakokot卫星中心，以确定雕像生产车间的证据。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，化学浆糊成分分析（仪器中子活化分析）将定量评估浆糊配方的相对差异和非本地小雕像的访问模式。总之，这些数据将为了解一个地区的雕像生产和销售系统提供多种证据。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型，因为大多数模型是基于“声望”和“功利”物品的二分法，相对排除了非声望的仪式对象。此外，对像雕像这样的仪式物品的经济性质的研究，揭示了一个国家体系的意识形态和社会整合。一个国家对此类物品的采购和传播的控制程度为评估宗教和社会符号被国家整合或国家强加的程度提供了一种途径。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，在圣何塞镇存在着对古玛雅的极大兴趣，在那里考古部分的工作将进行。镇上的一些伊察玛雅妇女指出，她们想创办一个围绕传统手工艺和知识的妇女组织。古玛雅工艺生产和分配系统的文献资料以及这些知识的传播（通过与社区成员互动，向城镇官员和当地图书馆提供照片和考古报告）将使人们更加了解当代玛雅人所关注的过去的做法。

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.