El Gigante Rock Shelter: Archaic Mesoamerica and Transitions to Settled Life

Material Cultural Remains

The analysis of the artifact assemblage is ongoing. Some initial impressions and observations can be made:

Ceramics

The ceramics have not been evaluated. There were a total of 1,521 sherds collected. These are mostly undiagnostic utilitarian wares. However, a few bichrome specimens were found and some incised as well as appliquéd pieces make up a small proportion of the collection. No figurines were found.

One artifact type of note is the ubiquitous clay marbles found. These were encountered in the Formative strata of many units. One suggestion for their function has been that they are hunting projectiles, however, given their light weight this seems unlikely. Perhaps they relate to recreational activities of children. A third and most provocative alternative, is that they are the internal parts of hollow mammiform ceramic supports sometimes used in ceremonial vessles as rattles. This would indicate some support for the ritual use of the cave in Formative times.

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