Analysis of Archaeological Artifacts from Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala

Introduction

Recent excavations at Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, have significantly improved our understanding of this ancient city, one of the largest capitals in Southern Mesoamerica during the Late Classic period. Located on the Pacific coastal piedmont (Figure 1; see note on previous page to download Autodesk® DWF Viewer), on the lower slope of the active Fuego volcano, Cotzumalhuapa has long been known for its distinctive sculptural style (Habel 1878; Bastian 1876, 1882; Seler 1892; Thompson 1948; Parsons 1967, 1969), which may now be interpreted as the monumental means of expression of a powerful ruling elite that commanded this major center and extended its political and cultural prestige over a large region of southern Guatemala (Chinchilla 1996a; 2002a; Chinchilla et al. 2001; cf. Wobst 1977). Their city covered an approximate 10 km², which included the major architectural compounds of Bilbao, El Baúl, and El Castillo. These compounds were integrated by an extensive system of causeways and bridges that also linked together other habitational and ceremonial areas. Cotzumalhuapa ranks among the major Late Classic centers of southern Mesoamerica, and therefore, its proper study is germane for current discussion of the complex political and cultural landscape of this period.

This project focused on the analysis of archaeological artifacts from Cotzumalhuapa, Guatemala, recovered during field research carried out by the author between 2000 and 2002. This research was possible thanks to grants and support provided by FAMSI, the National Geographic Society, the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, and the Popol Vuh Museum, Francisco Marroquín University. It included: (a) Excavations carried out along the causeway system; and (b) Excavations in an extensive obsidian workshop dump in the vicinity of El Baúl. Funding provided for by FAMSI for the analysis of artifacts made it possible to complete the analysis of ceramics from these excavations, and to advance significantly in the analysis of obsidian debris from the El Baúl obsidian workshop dump. Analysis of these materials provided significant insights on the chronology and function of the excavated areas. Analysis of obsidian recovered from the El Baúl workshop dump is especially significant because of its potential to reconstruct aspects of the political economy of ancient Cotzumalhuapa, including the procurement of commodities and the production processes involved in the transformation of raw materials.

Laboratory analysis was conducted by a group of students from the University of San Carlos, Guatemala, supervised by the author, with the assistance of M.A. Edgar Carpio, who directed the analysis of obsidian; and Licenciado José Vicente Genovez, who provided advice on the analysis of ceramics. Regina Moraga organized laboratory activities and conducted the major part of ceramic analysis. Participant students included Margarita Cossich Vielman, Ana Cristina Morales, Elisa Mencos, Paola Duarte, Rafael Castillo, Victor Castillo, Edgar Bendfeldt, and José Luis López.

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