Textile-Clay Laminates:  A special-use material in ancient Mesoamerica

Endnotes

The sites listed below were excavated by projects operating under the oversight of the Departamento de Monumentos Prehispánicos [DEMOPRE], of the Instituto de Arqueología e Historia de Guatemala [IDAEH], Dirección Patrimonio Cultural y Natural. Brief descriptions of the sites are provided, but only the projects whose excavations yielded laminate samples are specifically cited, along with bibliographic references for these proveniences. An individual project name can vary somewhat as it appears on forms, on labels and in publications, as well as in Spanish and English versions; the commonly encountered alternatives are included. For abbreviation purposes in this text, I have chosen the version that appears mostly consistently on sample labels or in publications. General reference: Sharer 1994.

1. The cave known as Cueva de los Quetzales [CQ] was investigated in 1993 by the Petexbatún Regional Cave Survey [PRCS], a sub-project of the Proyecto Arqueológico Regional Petexbatún [PARP] ³ , under the direction of James E. Brady and Irma Rodas. References: Brady and Rodas 1995; Brady et al. 1997.
   
   The cave underlies the site of Las Pacayas [LP], which was investigated by Héctor Escobedo as part of the Proyecto Atlas Arqueológico de Guatemala [PAAG]. Its occupation began in the Early Classic period (contemporaneous with Arroyo de Piedra and Tamarindito); by the Late Classic, it was absorbed by the Dos Pilas polity, centered about 11 km away to the north. Situated on a modified natural hill, the city appears to have been laid out to place the underlying cave at its civic-religious heart. The chimney-like opening in the cave vault is between the two major plazas (A and B). Most of the excavated materials from the Las Pacayas site date to the Late Classic. Reference: Escobedo et al. 1994.

2. Strategically positioned along a limestone escarpment, the city of Aguateca [AG] was founded in the late 7^th-early 8^th century A.D. as the second capital of the polity centered on Dos Pilas, located less than 10 km away (to the northwest). Its royal family, linked to that of Dos Pilas, took up residency in the narrow zone framed by the escarpment and by a parallel deep chasm. In a period of increasing military unrest in the region, the natural barriers of the elite zone were augmented with defensive walls. Following the fall of Dos Pilas after 761, Aguateca emerged as the principal capital of the polity. Around A.D. 800, it too was attacked by enemies and subsequently abandoned.
   
   Excavations carried out since 1990 by various projects have included testing operations in the site core (Main Plaza and Causeway area) and periphery, as well as more extensive investigations of individual structures. The excavated materials date primarily to the Late Classic period. The initial work was carried out under the aegis of the Proyecto Arqueológico Regional Petexbatún [PARP] ³ , in excavations directed by Takeshi Inomata (1990-1993). Explorations in peripheral areas continued for several more seasons under the direction of Arthur A. Demarest. References: Inomata 1995 [Strs M8-10, M8-11, L7-5, L7-42]; Inomata and Stiver 1998 [Str M8-10]; O’Mansky et al. [Group G-2], in Valdés et al. 1994.
   
   The site was subsequently excavated by the Aguateca Archaeological Project [AAP] (also called Proyecto Arqueológico Aguateca), directed by Takeshi Inomata, Daniela Triadan and Erick Ponciano (1996-2001 seasons). The 2002 season was designated Proyecto Arqueológico de Laboratorio Aguateca, and was directed by Daniela Triadan and Anaité Galeotti. References: Inomata 1995; Inomata et al. 1998 and Inomata et al. in press [Str M7-22]; Inomata et al. 2002 [Str M8-4]; Inomata and Murphy [Group L8-9], in Ponciano et al. 2000.
   
   The Proyecto de Restauración Aguateca [PR] carried out architectural restoration work at the site (1999-2000), directed by Juan Antonio Valdés, and funded by the Interamerican Development Bank [Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, BID] as part of the Programa de Desarrollo Sostenible de Petén. References: Urquizú [Str M7-26], in Valdés et al. 1999; Díaz-Samayoa y Valdés [Str M8-37] and Díaz-Samayoa y Martínez [Str M8-11], in Valdés et al. 2000.
   
   The project was succeeded by the Proyecto de Restauración Aguateca Segunda Fase [PRAS], funded by BID through a contract (beginning in 2002) with the Corporación Antigua, an architectural firm headed by Oscar Santos Corea, with project direction by Takeshi Inomata (beginning 2002). The project also includes some new archaeological investigations, designated the Proyecto Arqueológico Aguateca-BID Programa Complementario, also directed by Takeshi Inomata.

3. The Proyecto Arqueológico Regional Petexbatún [PARP], also known as the Petexbatún Regional Archaeological Project and Proyecto Arqueológico Petexbatún, was carried out under the overall direction of Arthur A. Demarest and Juan Antonio Valdés (1989-1994). The project encompassed survey and site investigations in the region lying at heart of the Río Pasión drainage. Numerous archaeologists were involved in individual site excavation, including Antonia E. Foias, Joel W. Palka (Dos Pilas), Takeshi Inomata (Aguateca), Héctor Escobedo (Arroyo de Piedra) and Juan Antonio Valdés (Tamarindito). Reference: Demarest 1997.

4. Arroyo de Piedra [AP]’s history predated the Late Classic period, but with the emergence of Dos Pilas it became an important secondary center in the Petexbatún polity. Located mid way between Dos Pilas (2-3 km to the west-southwest) and Tamarindito (~3 km to the east), it may have functioned as an outpost to maintain control over Tamarindito. It too was abandoned in the late 8^th century, following the collapse of Dos Pilas and its vassal cities.
   
   Test operations and selected investigations of structures were carried out in various portions of the site, under the direction of Héctor Escobedo as part of the PARP, including the Main Plaza and the adjoining North Plaza. References: Stuart [Str 13], in Demarest and Houston 1990; Escobedo 1997.

5. Located along the escarpment, Tamarindito [TA] is thought to have been the capital of a ruling lineage in the Early Classic Petexbatún, absorbed in the Late Classic by the new power that established itself at Dos Pilas. It must have posed a threat, given the oversight function established at the nearby center of Arroyo de Piedra. Its subsequent military revitalization–notably the capture of Ruler 4 in A.D. 761 by Tamarindito subordinates–ultimately led to Dos Pilas’ collapse. Investigations of the site were carried out under the direction of Juan Antonio Valdés as part of the PARP. Reference: Valdés 1997.

6. Located on Río Usumacinta some 100 km downriver (north and west) from the juncture of the tributary Río Pasión, the powerful center of Piedras Negras [PN] had a long history of independent rule over its surrounding polity; its dynastic history is best documented during the Late Classic period (early 7^th to late 8^th centuries). Excavations at PN in recent years were conducted under the direction of Stephen D. Houston and Héctor Escobedo. Reference: Urquizú [Group U-13], in Escobedo and Houston 1999.

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