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

Introduction
Chapter 6. Observations and Interpretations
“Viewed from the perspective of a living system, an occupation can
be defined as the uninterrupted use of a place by participants in a
cultural system. The material consequences of an occupation
represent a document regarding an organizational aspect or phase
of operation of the cultural system under study” (Binford 1982:5).
This chapter examines the landscape signatures at El Marquesillo, the material
traces left on the land surface by its human occupants. A series of discrete and
interconnected features are defined and elaborated according to the available evidence.
The data used to evaluate and define El Marquesillo was recovered from a series of non-
invasive techniques and, in some cases, may be considered preliminary.
This investigation of El Marquesillo has been a study of its human occupation.
Binford’s succinct description of occupation that opened this chapter prefaced his
comments on how archaeologists can better understand past cultural systems. He
maintains that greater perception of past activities can be achieved if the relationships of
formation and organization of differentially used places are recognized. Analysis of the
data collected at El Marquesillo suggests that its ancient inhabitants left a material record
(e.g., ceramic wares and architectural features) that demonstrates occupational and
activity patterns. Furthermore, it appears that a spatial uniformity of these activity areas
extended from the Early Formative to Postclassic period (c. 1500 BC to AD 1500).
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