In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

321 In order to give some idea of the early ceramic material at Mayapán, in anticipation of a final report, it is considered advisable to compile this preliminary analysis selecting only the main wares and types. The early pottery found at Mayapán and the small neighboring site of Santa Cruz (R. E. Smith, 1954:53–58) includes pre-Classic, Classic, Puuc, and Toltec period types, which together form approximately 2.5 percent of the total pottery collected. Here by Classic is meant Lowland Maya Classic as found in southern Campeche, Mexico, in the Peten of Guatemala, and in British Honduras. Puuc pottery was manufactured during the Classic period, both early and late, but was regional to northern Campeche and Yucatán. The Toltec period types were made during the early post-Classic period. The lowland Maya Classic specimens, all early in so far as the material examined for this report is concerned, were always associated with Puuc types. The small percentage of early pottery naturally was more abundant at certain levels and in certain sections. At Mayapán this was especially true of Cenotes XCoton and Ch’en Mul, where deposits occurred in considerable depth. At Santa Cruz, a site about 1.5 km southeast of the Mayapán wall, was found one of the best early ceramic sequences so far encountered in Yucatán. The pottery wares and types dealt with in this report are listed and described in the captions to the illustrations. Here we shall summarize the material under both ware and type. “Ware” in this report refers to ceramic groups in each of which paste characteristics and surface finish are constant. Pre-Classic pottery comprised three main wares: Unslipped Cinnamon-Colored; Waxy Red, usually a brownish-red; and Waxy Pinkish Cinnamon. Classic pottery offered a number of distinctive wares: Unslipped Gray; Oxkintok Coarse Mono­ chrome; Dichrome Gloss (called Flaky Di­chrome by C u r r e n t R e p o r t s Carnegie Institution of Washington Department of Archaeology No. 26 September1955 Earl y Ceramic Horizons at Ma yapán and Santa Cruz Robert E. Smith 26.1. Pre-Classic Types. a–f. Unslipped Cinnamon-Colored Ware (a–c, 25; d–f, 8, lip sherds). Jars. Color: usually Cinnamon (Munsell, 7.5 YR 6.2/6.0). Form: high outcurving neck, often thickened at rim, rounded lip(a,b,d); low outcurving neck, direct rim, flat lip c; medium high outcurving neck, direct rim, rounded lip e; high flaring neck, direct rim, pointed lip f. Bodies are globular, bases not encountered. Size: a,b,d, lip diam. 18.0–26.0 cm, thickness 0.7–1.3 cm, but where rim is thickened attains 1.6 cm; c. lip diam. 11.0 cm, thickness 0.6–0.8 cm; e. lip diam. 14.0 cm, thickness 0.7–0.9 cm; f. lip diam. 17.0 cm, thickness 0.8–0.9 cm. Surface: smoothed, and majority of sherds (a–c) striated on body only, a few (d–f) with vertical neck striations. g–v. Waxy Red Ware. g–j. Jars (g, 5; h, 6; i, l; j, 4, lip sherds). Color: red to brownish-red, a few reddish-brow Form: globular body, high slightly flaring (g,h) or outcurving (i) neck, direct rim (i, thickened), rounded or flat lip; j, probably better regarded as a deep bowl with neck. Size: g, lip diam. 20.0 cm, thickness 0.4–0.9 cm; h, lip diam. 24.0 cm, thickness 0.6–0.9 cm; i, lip diam. 21.0 cm, thickness 0.8–1.3 cm; j, lip diam. 27.0 cm, thickness 0.7–0.8 cm. Surface: g,h,j, slipped and burnished on exterior and neck interior, all well smoothed. i. Red-Slip-over-Striated, a type with fine striations on vessel exterior including neck and body, a polished red slip with waxy (?) feel covering jar exterior and neck interior. Decoration: j. vertical gadrooning on body done by pressing out vessel wall. k–m. Bowls or dishes (k, 51; l,m, 52, lip sherds). Color: reddish-red, some reddish-brown. Form: flaring, rarely outcurving (m), medium thick sides, direct rim, rounded lip, flat base. Size: k,l, lip diam. 41.0 cm, ht. (l) 10.0 cm, thickness 0.7–1.1 cm; m), lip diam. 32.0 cm, thickness 0.8–1.0 cm. Surface: slipped and burnished all over. Decoration: l,m, geometric design...

Share