Change, continuity, and the Maya collapse : reconstructing the ceramic economy in the Eastern Maya Lowlands during the classic to postclassic transition
This thesis centres on the technological study of two types of Maya elite wares, namely the Ahkâutuâ Molded-carved vases, and the Zakpah ceramics, recovered from several sites across Belize. The Ahkâutuâ vases and Zakpah ceramics are the respective temporal markers of the Terminal Classic (ca. AD 800-1000) and the Early Postclassic (ca. AD 950/1000-1200/1250) periods. These periods together constitute the years of the Maya collapse and 'post-collapse', a time of significant change that remains little known. The characterisation of the ceramics by visual examination, NAA, pXRF, thin-section petrography, and SEM-EDS sought to reconstruct the identification of manufacturing technology, and patterns of production and distribution, but also served as an indicator of any alterations in the socio-political, economic, and even ideological institutions that might have effected the survival or decline of individual communities in the Maya lowlands during the transitional period. The results show that the Ahkâutuâ vases and Zakpah ceramics are characterised by the presence of considerable variation in their composition and technology on the one hand, and conformity to their own distinctive iconographic programme
Ting, K. C.
Change, continuity, and the Maya collapse : reconstructing the ceramic economy in the Eastern Maya Lowlands during the classic to postclassic transition. This thesis centres on the technological study of two types of Maya elite wares, namely the Ahkâutuâ Molded-carved vases, and the Zakpah ceramics, recovered from several sites across Belize. The Ahkâutuâ vases and Zakpah ceramics are the respective temporal markers of the Terminal Classic (ca. AD 800-1000) and the Early Postclassic (ca. AD 950/1000-1200/1250) periods. These periods together constitute the years of the Maya collapse and 'post-collapse', a time of significant change that remains little known. The characterisation of the ceramics by visual examination, NAA, pXRF, thin-section petrography, and SEM-EDS sought to reconstruct the identification of manufacturing technology, and patterns of production and distribution, but also served as an indicator of any alterations in the socio-political, economic, and even ideological institutions that might have effected the survival or decline of individual communities in the Maya lowlands during the transitional period. The results show that the Ahkâutuâ vases and Zakpah ceramics are characterised by the presence of considerable variation in their composition and technology on the one hand, and conformity to their own distinctive iconographic programme
change_continuity maya collapse reconstruct ceramic economy eastern maya_lowlands classic transition technological study two_type maya elite ware namely vas ceramic recover several site_across belize ceramic respective temporal marker terminal classic early person period period together constitute year maya collapse post collapse time significant_change remain little_know characterisation ceramic visual examination pxrf thin_section_petrography sem_eds seek reconstruct identification manufacture_technology pattern production_distribution also_serve indicator alteration socio_political economic even ideological institution might effect survival decline individual community maya_lowlands transitional_period show ceramic characterise presence considerable variation composition technology one_hand conformity distinctive iconographic programme