The Preclassic Whole Vessels of Lamanai, Belize: A Final Report

Ceramic Research

The ceramic analysis began with the types enumerated using the type:variety-mode system of classification commonly used in the Maya lowlands (Gifford, 1976; Sabloff and Smith, 1969; Smith et al., 1960; Willey et al., 1967). This approach, combined with an attribute or modal analysis, provided a better understanding of the chronology, intra-site and inter-site distribution of these ceramics, and a knowledge of vessel function and site use. More than 30 attributes were examined on each Preclassic vessel, including shape or form, slip color, decoration design and technique, surface treatment, paste and temper type, and metrics (height, rim diameter, wall thickness, volume).

Analysis of the Late Preclassic ceramic assemblage has produced a number of preliminary results. For example, there are a number of specialized and unspecialized forms which were used by the inhabitants of Lamanai for a variety of purposes, including cooking, food preparation, serving, dry and liquid storage, and transport. Eight general vessel forms are present in the Preclassic assemblage. There are 66 open bowls and dishes, 20 jars, 18 open plates, 11 crudely-fashioned bowls, nine restricted-rim bowls, three deep basins and buckets, three vertical-walled bowls, and three vases. Of the forms present, open bowls, dishes, and plates are the most common, making up 63% of the entire assemblage. Jars are also common, forming 18%, and are represented by both spouted and unspouted forms.

More than two-thirds of the assemblage were highly polished serving vessels and slipped red, black, cream, or a combination of two of these colors. The Sierra Red Group is the dominant ceramic group at the site making up 65% of the total assemblage during Late Preclassic times. All other ceramic groups, including Aguacate, Coconut Walk, Flor, Matamore, Polvero, and Specials consist of less than 10% each (see Graham, 1994; Lopez, 1996; Kosakowsky, 1987; and Valdez, 1987; for ceramic type descriptions). Pottery vessels were generally decorated with pre-slip incisions, grooves, and punctates. The assemblage exhibited a number of modelled vessels in the zoomorphic shapes of birds (Figure 2) and crocodiles (Figure 3). The crocodile effigy vessel is important because it represents the first evidence of crocodile imagery at the site, supporting the reading Lama’anayin ("submerged crocodile") as the ancient name of this community (Pendergast, 1981a:32).

Although red slipped pottery was prevalent at Lamanai there are also a number of black and cream slipped pottery examples that represent the Late Preclassic period at the site (Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6). During the Protoclassic period, red slipped pottery continued to predominate the assemblage (Figure 7), but this homogeneity in slip color was slowing being replaced by pottery that exhibited trickle painted designs known as Usulután decoration (Figure 8 and Figure 9). Like other Maya sites of this period, Lamanai also adopted new pottery elements such as mammiform feet and ring bases (Figure 9 and Figure 10). Other kinds of decoration applied to the vessels included concentric horizontal streaky marks painted on the surfaces of Society Hall Red bowls and dishes as well as red crosses painted on the base of Sierra Red plates. According to McAnany et al. (1999:139-140), these cross motifs could represent an early example of the quadripartite motif or kan cross.

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