Ceramics at Piedras Negras, Guatemala

The Late Classic

The Balche ceramic phase marks the transition from Early to Late Classic at Piedras Negras. Balche is coeval with the Veremos an Chixoy phases at Altar de Sacrificios, and late Junco at Seibal. Like these complexes, the definition of Balche originally suffered from a poor definition of types and limited representation. At Seibal this was probably the result of depopulation related to some site-wide trauma. At Altar there appeared to be no break in population and problems related to defining this complex were likely the result of the short period of time involved and a confounding "interfingering of types" (Adams 1971:85). This also appears to be the case at Piedras Negras where Balche, like Veremos at Altar de Sacrificios, is characterized by rapid changes in ceramic modes. At Piedras Negras this appears to be the result of diversification of vessel form and decorative modes as influence from the Central Petén wanes and Piedras Negras begins to develop into the primary site and major political power for the region.

Holley (1983) notes that unmixed Balche assemblages were poorly represented in the sample available to him and that, as a result, the greater part of that complex was defined by sorting out those materials from mixed contexts that were clearly affiliated with earlier or later complexes. In the course of excavations the current project encountered unmixed deposits of Balche complex ceramics in a minimum of 27 operations across the site and in secure stratigraphic contexts. The great quantity of Balche complex deposits encountered has significantly advanced our understanding of this critical period in the history of the site. Balche ceramics are associated with the initial construction of a number of structures on the Acropolis as well as with the modification of residential groups all across the site. In addition, Balche ceramics are also associated with the initial construction of a number of major structures at Piedras Negras including monumental sweatbath P-7.

Diagnostic modes for Balche include the frequent use of specular hematite, a reduction in the size and change in the orientation of basal flanges, a reduction in size and frequency of hollow supports, and use of bichrome and polychrome-resist. Common forms in use at this time include deep, hemispherical bowls, shallow bowls with composite walls, and shallow dishes with slightly everted lips. Other diagnostic modes include the use of slightly bolstered and grooved rims on unslipped utility vessels and unslipped exteriors on shallow dishes with hollow tripod supports. This vessel form is also common in later, Yaxche phase assemblages, but is frequently slipped on the exterior.

Orange monochromes dominate most Balche assemblages, though monochrome blacks become increasingly frequent and monochrome reds appear for the first time. Positive-painting remains the dominant polychrome mode, though bichrome and polychrome-resists become increasingly frequent. At this time, two resist types, Mataculebra Cream Polychrome and Moro Orange Polychrome, both known from other Lowland sites appear at Piedras Negras. The appearance of these polychrome-resists marks the beginning of a tradition that will dominate the manufacture of polychrome pottery at Piedras Negras for the next 200 years.

Yaxche is the first fully Late Classic ceramic complex at Piedras Negras and perhaps represents the pinnacle of the potter’s art at Piedras Negras. Yaxche ceramics have been found in large quantities in all areas of the site, in sealed contexts, below inarguably later (Chacalhaaz) materials, and in association with dated monuments. While many forms reminiscent of those common in the Central Petén are in use during the Yaxche ceramic phase, surface decorations are becoming increasingly differentiated in terms of palette, motif, and technology. During this period, resist-decorated ceramics become the predominant polychrome mode. Of the resist-decorated types, Santa Rosa Cream Polychrome is the most common type and is found in almost every Yaxche lot.

The emphases on resist-decoration, the near absence of positive-painted decoration, and the use of distinctive vessel forms give the early Late Classic ceramics of Piedras Negras a distinctive quality. In general, there seems to be limited typological correspondences between Piedras Negras and the great majority of Petén sites for which comparative data is available. Given that the basis of sphere affiliation is defined as, "a high content level at the typological level" (Willey et al. 1967:306) it seems likely that Piedras Negras participated in an as yet undefined ceramic sphere encompassing portions of the Western Lowlands, and existing apart from the more central Tepeu Sphere.

On the basis of form and decoration it is possible to facet Yaxche. Early facet forms include hemispherical bowls with direct rims, shallow plates with direct rim, and cylinders. Polychrome-resist decoration incorporated into abstract design appears for the first time in great quantity. The early facet is also marked by the infrequent appearance of a number of positive-painted polychrome types including Yaxche Orange Polychrome. On occasion, these polychrome types may contain decorations executed in specular red hematite. The use of this material also serves to distinguish early facet Yaxche.

The late facet of the Yaxche ceramic phase is marked by the appearance of bowls with flaring walls and direct rims, the increased frequency of bowls with out-curving walls, the absence of hemispherical bowls, the increased frequency of shallow, everted-rim dishes, and the occasional appearance of Chablekal Fine Grays. This facet is also marked by a significant reduction in the quantity of positive-painted ceramics, the use of resist-decoration in combination with black line figural or iconographic painting, and the disappearance of hematite decoration. Late facet Yaxche ceramics are known from all areas of the site, including residential complexes far outside the site core.

The Chacalhaaz ceramic phase follows Yaxche, beginning at about A.D. 740 and ending at around A.D. 850.  Throughout this time, Piedras Negras seemed to maintain itself as a ceramic entity independent of more general Tepeu developments, though there are stronger links, particularly with regard to vessel form, than in the previous phase. Chacalhaaz ceramics are found throughout the site, both in construction fill and in middens. Several large middens of Chacalhaaz material are known from the Acropolis, and from the C-Group, a large residential complex at the northern edge of the site core. Rather than being deposited between or behind buildings, these middens are found filling room spaces. On the Acropolis, this includes several rooms of vaulted structure J-2 and monumental sweatbath J-17.  The deposits found in these rooms all date to the latter half of the Chacalhaaz phase and suggests that by approximately 800 A.D., Piedras Negras was suffering gradual abandonment.

Chacalhaaz is defined by the frequent appearance of Chablekal Fine Gray, a number of changes in vessel form and decorative motif, and an increasing reliance on positive painting as the primary means of polychrome decoration. Important changes in vessel form include the appearance of basins with heavily bolstered rims and thickened rims, shallow dishes with large, hollow tripod supports, tall bowls with out-curving walls, and very shallow plates resembling comales. In addition, vessel size seems to increase dramatically during this time. Vessels are, generally, larger and much more heavily built than those common in the preceding complex. Monkeys, typically seated with a single arm outstretched and palm upturned, becomes a common motif on both painted and incised vessels (Figure 4). This motif is likely related to decorations found on the Chablekal Fine Gray vessels common at the site at about this time. In general Chacalhaaz ceramics, particularly utility forms, are more similar to those found at other sites for which good comparative data is available than during the preceeding phase.

The disappearances of resist-reserve decoration and Chablekal Fine Grays allow us to define a late facet Chacalhaaz. The late facet is marked by the probable destruction of the Acropolis by forces acting at the behest of Yaxchilán in A.D. 808 (Stuart 1998). Evidence from several sealed deposits that, stratigraphically, must post-date this event and do not contain resist-reserve ceramics, Chablekal Fine Gray or true Fine Orange ceramics. The absence of fine grays and fine oranges indicates that for a short period of the following Piedras Negras’ defeat very little imported ceramic was entering the site. This period marks the chronological span of late facet Chacalhaaz. Fine orange ceramics appear in the Pasión region no earlier than about 830 A.D. and quite likely before 850 A.D.  The introduction of fine orange ceramics into Piedras Negras marks the end of the Chacalhaaz ceramic phase.

Kumche is the final ceramic complex at Piedras Negras and marks the abandonment of the site. The beginning of the Kumche ceramic phase is marked principally by the introduction of Tres Naciones and related fine orange types into the site between about A.D. 840 and A.D. 850.  Kumche ceramics are not widely distributed at Piedras Negras. The frequency and distribution of these materials in this area is strongly reminiscent of Preclassic settlement patterns at Piedras Negras. In contrast to Preclassic settlement, however, Kumche ceramics have been found in surface contexts in a number of residential groups outside the site core. In addition, a large midden of Kumche materials were found filling a room in the residential group at the northern edge of the site core. This has allowed us to define the typological and formal content of this complex with a high degree of certainty, avoiding the problems typically related to defining terminal ceramic complexes.

While the appearance of Tres Naciones Fine Gray and related fine orange types provide the most certain diagnostics of this complex, it is important to note that Kumche is also marked by the appearance of a number of decorative modes diagnostic of the Terminal Classic elsewhere in the Petén. These modes include the use of hollow, zoomorphic supports and/or notched basal ridges on shallow plates, everted and grooved rims on unslipped utility forms, and vertical or bulging necks on both slipped and unslipped jars. In addition, ceramic pastes manufactured at this time appear to be, in general, finer than pastes used in other complexes. Though still relying heavily on carbonate temper, it appears as if local potters are trying to emulate some imported ceramic styles. The use of crystalline carbonate temper declines dramatically, and non-crystalline carbonate tempers appears to be more finely ground before use.

Because the Post Classic is so weakly represented at Piedras Negras, because there is no clear construction at Piedras Negras during Kumche, and because there is, as a result, no clear Terminal Classic to Post Classic stratigraphy at Piedras Negras, it is impossible to say with any precision when Kumche ends. Based on the quantity of material present at Piedras Negras that is inarguably dated to this period, we estimate that this phase lasted no more than 50 to 60 years. We are also to describe with any precision the nature of the Late Classic to Post Classic transition at Piedras Negras, though it seems that at least some of the major ritual structures remained in use through this period—a mixed midden containing Kumche materials was found behind the temple of Structure O-13.

Most of the Post Classic materials recovered from Piedras Negras were found by the University of Pennsylvania Project working there in the 1930’s. The great majority of this material consisted of  "Lacandon" anthropomorphic censers recovered from the interiors of the temples in the South Group Court. The only possibly Post Classic material recovered by the current project was a pair of bichrome plates cached beneath a collapsed wall in sweatbath structure P-7 (Child and Child 2002). These vessels are clearly of non-local origin, and were almost certainly cached after a portion of the wall had collapsed. This, in addition to the censers recovered by the Pennsylvania Project, suggest that Piedras Negras may have been a pilgrimage center long after the final occupants had left the city.

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