The Organization of Chipped-Stone Economies at Piedras Negras ...

is understood to be the site core. These categories are (1) acropolis excavations, which
are designated as royal and the residence of the ruling elites; (2) city center excavations,
which encompass residential groups located close to monumental architecture; and (3)
near-periphery residential groups that are located a greater distance from civic-
ceremonial architecture (Figure 7.1).
Much of the acropolis can be considered as a large living facility for the ruling
elite of Piedras Negras. Although the rooms of the palace structures have been cleaned
out by archaeologists, and the ancient Maya themselves, a series of excavations carried
out by Charles Golden, Monica Pellecer, and Fabio Quiróa focused on Patio 3 and the
smaller structures located on the north side of the acropolis. These excavations, dubbed
Operations PN11, PN46, and PN54 (Figure 7.2), yielded the best evidence of lifeways
located above the rest of the city (literally and figuratively). It is unclear if the royal
family lived in the smaller residences on the north side of the acropolis, but attendants,
cooks, and other craft specialists may have inhabited it.
The residential groups within the city are not as clear-cut in terms of status. While
Jackson (2001, 2005) and others noted that Operation PN15 and PN41 were likely
subroyal-elite residences, other households appear to have been less affluent with regard
to time investment in architecture and other status markers. I do not address the issue of
status differences between residential groups except for the previously mentioned
distinction between the palace excavations and the rest of the city. The operations and
associated residential groups discussed in this study are PN15, PN20, PN23, PN24 (same
as 10C), OPN25, PN26, PN33, PN35, PN41, PN57, and PN62. The locations are marked
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