essay

Appendix X: Spatial organization of an Early Formative household

Excavations at Santo Domingo Tomaltepec: evolution of a formative community in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico by Michael E. Whalen • 6 (12) • Published In 1981 • Pages: 195-203

By: Spencer, Charles S. (Charles Sidney).

Abstract

Excavations at Santo Domingo Tomaltepec resulted in the exposure of a nearly complete early San JosT phase domestic structure. This structure, designated as House 4, represents one of the more complete examples of an Early Formative wattle-and-daub house so far discovered in Mesoamerica. It thus presents an unusual opportunity for conducting a spatial analysis of artifact distribution within the house. The goal of such an analysis was to reconstruct the activities of the members of the household in an attempt to clarify the nature of household-level socioeconomic organization. Using the statistical technique known as 'nearest-neighbor' analysis to evaluate his data, the author concludes...'that households at these sites [here represented by Tomaltepec] are characterized by distinct male and female activity areas, defined on the basis of artifact concentrations.'(p. 203)

HRAF PubDate

2010

Region

Middle America and the Caribbean

Sub Region

General Middle America and the Caribbean

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle; 2008

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

4000-2600 BP (2000-600 BC)

Coverage Place

Santo Domingo Tomaltepec, Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Notes

by Charles S. Spencer

LCCN

82105268

LCSH

Indians of Mexico--Mexico--Oaxaca Valley--Antiquities/Tomaltepec Site (Mexico) Oaxaca Valley (Mexico)--Antiquities/Mexico--Antiquities