James E. Brady

Re-Evaluation of the Isotopic and Archaeological Reconstructions of Diet in the Tehuacan Valley

Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in collagen from bones of individuals who lived in the Tehuacan Valley during the period 8000–1000 years B.P. have been interpreted as indicating earlier use of maize and more utilization of legumes as food sources than is suggested by the occurrence of the remains of these plants in the coprolites and debris excavated along with the bones. Reassessment of the assumptions made in interpreting the bone collagen isotope ratios reduces some but not all of the discrepancy between the isotopic and archaeological reconstructions of diet. The original archaeological reconstruction relied entirely on remains from cave sites, thus introducing seasonal and locational biases into the dietary reconstruction. Using the bone collagen isotope ratios as a guide, we re-interpreted the archaeological data to produce a more complete picture of temporal changes in the overall diet. We suggest that heavy dependence on grains began in the Coxcatlan phase and then may have remained unchanged for the next 5,500–6,500 years. These conclusions, which are based on a relatively small isotopic data base, need to be verified by an extensive program of isotopic analysis of the floral, faunal, and human remains from Tehuacan.

Mass Spectrometric Radiocarbon Dates from Three Rock Paintings of Known Age

Radiocarbon age determinations are presented on three hieroglyphic texts from Naj Tunich cave in Guatemala containing Maya calendar dates. The ages obtained are on average 110–140 years older than the calendar dates. Several possible reasons are discussed for this discrepancy: one that is applicable to all radiocarbon dates on charcoal, one that applies to rock paintings, and one that is specific for the tropics. Possible problems with the ages ascribed to the Maya calendar dates are also discussed. Even with the potential problems that may exist, these dates still fall within 110–140 years of the ascribed calendar dates. Caution is urged in the interpretation of dates on charcoal pigments from rock paintings; consideration of the “old wood” and “old charcoal” factors is important.

Glimpses of the Dark Side of the Petexbatun Project: The Petexbatun Regional Cave Survey

The Petexbatun Regional Cave Survey (PRCS) is the first large cave study to be undertaken as part of a major archaeological expedition. The surveys primary objective was assessing the extent to which surface architecture at Dos Pilas was configured by features in the sacred landscape. All three of the major architectural complexes at the site had a direct relation to caves, and a number of important secondary buildings and even residential units were deliberately laid out to incorporate caves. Excavation revealed evidence of Preclassic utilization of all of the major caves, indicating that their status as sacred landmarks had been established long before the eighth century florescence of the site. The importance of the caves in site configuration was mirrored in the artifact assemblage. Despite the surveys much smaller size, the cave investigations recovered 20–50% more of the overall assemblage at Dos Pilas in an array of artifact categories. A review of the archaeological literature suggests that the importance ascribed to caves at Dos Pilas in both site configuration and local economy can be found elsewhere and probably reflects a much wider pattern of utilization.

A Reappraisal of Ancient Maya Cave Mining

Throughout the world caves are often important sacred landmarks whose dark zones tend to be restricted spaces reserved for religious rituals. The function and meaning of activities conducted within these spaces are categorically different than physically similar activities conducted at the surface. Archaeology has been slow to integrate this fact into the analysis of cave features. Recently discovered evidence of extractive activities within Maya caves allows us to reevaluate previous work on cave mines. We suggest that the extraction was always small in scale and that the material extracted was most likely used in ritual. We then examine several surface mines where tunnel mining was used to extract a relatively undifferentiated matrix. Evidence suggests that a prime concern in the excavation was the creation of an artificial cave.

Multispectral analysis of ancient Maya pigments: implications for the Naj Tunich corpus

Naj Tunich, in southeastern Peten, Guatemala, is one of only five caves currently known to contain Maya hieroglyphic writing. It is universally recognized as the preeminent Maya cave site because its corpus ofinscriptions exceeds those of the other four caves combined. In June of 1998, over half of these inscriptions were documented at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using multi-spectral imaging techniques. Spectral differences were noted in the Naj Tunich images especially in the infrared. Spectral signatures were used to identify differences in the Naj Tunich pigments and suggest that at least three different pigments were used. More importantly, the ability to document spectral differences reveals far more complexity in the Naj Tunich corpus than previously appreciated. Several instances of over-painting, repainting or touching up were discovered. The cases of over-painting reveal the temporal complexity of the drawings and suggest that the painting occurred over a longer period of time than had been proposed by previous investigation. The ability to characterize pigment composition using spectral data has also led the authors to question a number of relational differences and similarities between drawings proposed on the basis of stylistic analysis.

Speleothem breakage, movement, removal, and caching: An aspect of ancient Maya cave modification

Recent investigations have documented extensive human breakage, movement, resetting, removal, and caching of speleothems which reflects an unreported aspect of ancient Maya cave utilization. The movement, resetting, and caching of speleothems make it clear that much of the breakage was purposeful. Speleothems appear in excavation contexts at surface sites, and the Petexbatun Regional Archaeological Project demonstrates that reported examples represent only a small portion of formations actually present. Many of the contexts at surface sites indicate that speleothems had a sacred or special meaning, and ethnographic sources indicate that the meaning is associated with rain, fertility, healing, and power. Preliminary results of neutron activation analysis indicate that it may be possible to determine the cave of origin of speleothems found in cultural contexts.

THE COUPLE IN THE CAVE: Origin Iconography on a Ceramic Vessel from Los Naranjos, Honduras

This article analyzes the iconography on a ceramic vessel collected from the site of Los Naranjos, Honduras, over 70 years ago by Danish archaeologist Jens Yde. The relatively more naturalistic representation of the scene on the vessel allows us to interpret the motifs called “dancing figures” as relating to a well-documented corpus of Mesoamerican origin mythology. We then turn our attention to the site of Los Naranjos and document the fact that the area of Lake Yojoa closely mirrors the idealized Mesoamerican landscape associated with the place of the earths creation. Combining this insight with the depiction on the Yde vessel, we suggest that the Cave of Tauleve may have been considered the place of human creation or human emergence.

Application of seismic surface waves at a pre‐Columbian settlement in Honduras

A technique to locate culturally significant features by means of mechanical stiffness contrasts using seismic surface waves was applied at a Pre-Columbian settlement along the Talgua River near the town of Catacamas, Department of Olancho, Honduras, Central America. This technique was adapted from geotechnical engineering, where it is used to establish layering of soil and rock. With this surface-based, non-intrusive technique, a stress pulse is applied at the ground surface and the resulting ground motion is sensed and recorded using a pair of geophones placed on the ground surface a short distance away. Through spectral analysis, the dispersive characteristics of the earth between the two geophones are determined. Anomalies were mapped by comparing dispersion “signatures” along linear arrays. For corroboration, electrical resistivity measurements were also conducted. Ground truth was established through excavations, during which several significant features were unearthed. The most valuable result of the geophysical investigation was the discovery that a thick layer of fill had been brought in to level the site. This documented that the Talgua Village was constructed on top of a massive modification of the natural landscape and implies a higher level of political power and complexity than suggested by the modest size of the surface mounds. Copyright

Electrical resistivity mapping of landscape modifications at the Talgua site, Olancho, Honduras

Geophysical reconnaissance in 1995 provided information useful in developing a successful strategy for the 1996 field season in resistivity mapping of subsurface cultural features at Talgua Village, an archaeological site in eastern Honduras. Ground truth excavations confirmed that high-resistivity anomalies detected by modified dipole–dipole apparent resistivity pseudosections correlate with a layer of small cobbles imported to fill low spots of this prehistoric settlement. Resistivity measurements reveal that mounds on this site were erected on normal subsoil, while at least one plaza was originally a topographic low that has been filled. The volume of imported stones is at least 500 m3, which represents a significant public improvement effort. Similar imported fill under the rest of Talgua Village could be mapped by similar means, and other prehistoric sites of the region could be geophysically tested for similar features. Resistivity profiles provide archaeologists with a quick, inexpensive, accurate, and noninvasive method of determining the extent of landscape modification at Talgua Village.

Bats and the Camazotz: Correcting a Century of Mistaken Identity

At the end of the nineteenth century, Eduard Seler identified the bats depicted on a ceramic vessel excavated by Erwin Dieseldorff at the site of Chama, Guatemala, as the camazotz, or death bat, from the K’iche’ Maya myth, the Popol Vuh. The attribution was never critically reviewed. Nevertheless, it became so deeply entrenched that virtually every image of a Maya bat is identified as a camazotz. We have located no ancient depictions of the Hero Twins in the chamber of the camazotz, which calls into question the salience of this scene for the ancient Maya. In iconography and ethnohistory, multiple figures with bat-like characteristics exist, both bats and anthropomorphic bat-men. Clearly, the situation is complex. We argue that bats appear principally in four roles. The first is as an emblematic symbol representing some group. The bat played a second role as a messenger, often paired on vessels with a bird. A third category relates to pollination, vegetation, and fertility, and here the bat may be paired with the hummingbird. The last and largest category is wahy beings, which most epigraphers now think were bestial forms of personified diseases. Included here are the many vessels depicting the fire-breathing bat, including Dieseldorffs Chama vessel. We argue that the identification with the camazotz should be dropped altogether and that the associations proposed by Seler need to be rethought.