Maya Lowland Ceramics: A Report from the 1965 Guatemala City Conference

Abstract

A conference of archaeologists interested in the ceramics of the Maya Lowlands was held in Guatemala City in August, 1965. The conference had as goals the substantive comparison of ceramic complexes and the consideration of theoretical and methodological problems associated with the use of the type-variety approach to ceramic analysis. Comparison produced an arrangement of ceramic complexes from 10 sites in terms of typological horizons established on the basis of horizon markers-chronologically specific traits shared by two or more complexes. Close historical connections between sites were given formal recognition by the definition of ceramic spheres composed of complexes from different sites demonstrating a high degree of content similarity for specific time intervals. Changes in the extent and nature of ceramic spheres through time suggest variations in the intensity of technological culture contact within the Maya Lowlands. The theoretical and practical implications of analytical tools such as type, ware, facet, sub-complex, complex, sphere, and phase were discussed with resultant modifications and clarifications of definitions and methodological procedures.