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

在Patricia McAnany博士的监督下，Eleanor Harrison-Buck将分析从伯利兹Sibun山谷玛雅定居点的考古发掘中收集的数据。这个山谷以其作为边境地区的位置而闻名，在政治上受到两个竞争核心地区的争夺：西部的Peten和北部的Yucatan。在古典晚期到晚期的过渡时期（公元700年至公元900年），位于“玛雅中心地带”的贝当中心衰落，奇琴伊察的区域中心通过沿着加勒比海扩展的贸易网络，将其权力基础扩展到尤卡坦半岛北方以外。在西本山谷和东海岸沿着的其他地方，人们建造了圆形的神殿，类似于奇琴伊察的小型神殿。具有北方特色的陶瓷，要么是本地生产的，要么是从北方进口的。在某些地区，已经发现了来自北方采购来源（包括墨西哥中部）的黑曜石。哈里森·巴克在Sibun的研究通过对尤卡坦风格建筑和手工艺品的技术分析来考察边境地区的群体身份。本研究旨在澄清建筑和物质文化的变化是否纯粹是风格上的“指向当地精英对北方风格的模仿“，还是代表了社会和经济组织的根本转变，也许是古典时期末期北方族群进入山谷的结果。最近对边境地区身份的考古学研究表明，物质景观中清晰的社会边界很难被定义。为了解决边境地区社会身份的复杂性，来自三个Sibun山谷定居点的圆形建筑“Pechtun Ha，Oshon和Obispo”的文物将受到广泛的分析计划。由Harrison-Buck进行的陶瓷和当地粘土取样的类型学分析构成了使用岩相学和仪器中子活化分析（INAA）进行矿物学和化学研究的基础。总之，研究结果提供了关于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依据。交换模式的性质是进一步评估的来源黑曜石的大样本。玛雅低地考古学中晚期经典过渡的年代学细化是通过对不同级别的挖掘进行密集的放射性碳测年来实现的。这项研究具有重要的智力价值，可以揭示商品和思想的流动，以及边境地区的人们，同时推进我们对深刻社会变革时期古代玛雅社会的总体了解。化学和成分分析的应用回答了一个更复杂的方法来理解社会身份和互动的边疆考古学的要求。开发的方法，探索社会身份，风格和技术生产结构之间的重要关系，可以应用到世界各地的其他研究领域。将所有结果公布在网上，以便进行比较研究，并扩大该项目的公众知名度。参加专业会议和在经评审的期刊上发表论文将把结果传达给更广泛的学术界。作者以及各机构的研究生将获得上述分析方法的宝贵培训。

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.