An Unexplored Realm in the Heartland of the Southern Gulf ... - Famsi

Ceramic Collection Areas
The identified ceramic collection from El Marquesillo contains in excess of
34,000 potsherds that were assembled from numerous locations and by various methods
(see Table 5.1). Thousands more were unidentifiable due to the erosional effects of the
acidic soils, high humidity, and anthropogenic activities (Coe and Diehl 1980a:131). The
unit excavations around the Olmec throne during its rescue operation included 3,894
sherds. The associated Offerings I and II contained 3,348 and 1,055 additional pieces
respectively, and a concurrent pedestrian collection of the cut bank profile generated
7,057 pieces (Hernández and Barrera 2002). In late 2002, seven 1.5 x 1.5 m test units
were excavated in Fields 1 and 2 where 14,315 potsherds were recovered (Hernández
2003). In 2003, a surface collection was conducted that accounted for 4,756 ceramic
pieces (Hernández and Doering 2004). In 2004 and 2005, collections were conducted
during stratigraphic profiling of the cut bank that amounted to 209 pieces. Additional
surface collection surveys of the river cut bank and agricultural fields in and around the
survey area provided supplemental chronologically diagnostic ceramics (Hernández and
Doering 2005).
Table 5.1. Ceramic Collections conducted at El Marquesillo
Ceramic Collection Area Quantity
Olmec Throne Recovery Excavations 3,894
Olmec Throne – Offering I 3,348
Olmec Throne – Offering II 1,055
River Cut Profile 7,057
Northern Test Units 14,315
Surface Collection 4,756
Stratigraphic Profiles 210
Total 34,671
201