essay

Other ceramic and miscellaneous artifacts

ancient chalcatzingo • Austin • Published In 1987 • Pages: 271-294

By: Grove, David C..

Abstract

In the first half of this work, Grove describes ceramic artifacts other than vessels and anthropomorphic figurines from the Olmec-influenced highland site of Chalcatzingo. These are categorized according to function: 1) as personal adornment (beads, earspools, pendants and stamps); 2) in ritual (whistles, flutes, masks, miniature vessels and zoomorphic figurines); 3) for utilitarian purposes (spindle whorls, molds, and 'bananas'); and 4) unknown purpose (balls, ground sherds, and hollow spheres). The second half of the work covers miscellaneous materials: iron ore, shell, bone and sinew. The very few artifacts with Gulf Coast Olmec correlates are a shark-like pendant, some roller and flat stamps, zoomorphic single chamber whistles, and iron ore mirrors. Artifacts that provide contrast with, and/or fill voids in, the Gulf Coast Olmec record include ceramic earspools, animal figurines, 'bananas' (possible plastering tools, solid balls, ground sherd discs (tools, gaming pieces and/or tallying counters), ground sherd rectangles, obsidian 'bloodletters' (perforators), and worked shell and bone items. Miniature vessels (found mainly in domestic contexts) and ceramic bars that may have been tools for ceramic production supplement the general analysis of ceramic vessels found in Cyphers: 1987 (Document 16).

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

Middle America and the Caribbean

Sub Region

Central Mexico

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Leon G. Doyon ; 2007

Field Date

1972-1976

Coverage Date

3500 BP-2500 BP

Coverage Place

Chalcatzingo, Morelos State, Mexico

Notes

David C. Grove

whistles, ceramic - use 'CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY (323)' and 'MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (534)' and 'VISUAL ARTS (5311)'; stamps, ceramic - use 'CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY (323)' and 'PERSONAL GROOMING (302)' and 'VISUAL ARTS (5311)'

For bibliographical references see Grove: 1987 (Document 3)

LCCN

85022673

LCSH

Olmecs