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

cache name contains the name of the building in which it was deposited, as well as an
additional number that designates the order in which the cache was discovered. For
example the R-5-4 cache was discovered in the R-5 pyramid before Cache R-5-6.
8 It is possible that K-5-8 is actually a Balche phase (i.e., Early to Late Classic transition
period) cache based on new ceramic data.
9 The reign of Ruler 1 actually started in the Balche ceramic phase, which should be
considered as an Early to Late Classic transition period.
10 Flint can be described as a cryptocrystalline quartz, but I retain the term
microcrystalline to streamline discussions of technological variability at the site.
11 Laurel leaf and celtiform bifaces may not have been considered to be finished, in some
cases, because they also constitute a preform for other tools and types of eccentrics. It is
possible that microcrystalline-quartz materials were traded in this preform state for
further reduction by those who acquired them.
12 Rovner and Lewenstein (1997), and others (Aoyama 1994; Hester 1976; Potter 1993;
Sheets 1977) have reviewed the history of lithic typologies from the Maya area pointing
out key developments in the creation of these classification systems.
13 This typology is described in some detail in Chapter 6.
14 I refer to lengths of the human hand because of the general propensity in Maya cultures
to use body parts as systems of measurements (Houston personal communication).
15 Inconsistencies in the organization of small bifaces are caused by spatial restraints.
16 This does not hold true for the Preclassic when bipolar technologies were used for a
much wider range of purposes.
17 Soft-hammer percussion refers to the kind of percussor used in the reduction process.
These hammers could have been made of wood, large bones, antler, or soft limestone, but
none have been identified at Piedras Negras.
18 The core is very accessible to the knapper in the step technique and an attendant may
not have been necessary. Repositioning the core is simple, even for medial rejuvenation
procedures (i.e., rejuvenation from the central portion of the core).
19 It should be noted, however, that overall artifact counts were not a factor in
determining production locales in this study. Artifact counts are only used to further
describe a production locale as it is defined here.
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