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

further support to the idea that El Marquesillo represents a well-established, conservative
community that practiced rituals and ceremonies. The duration of these proposed
practices over more than 1,500 years indicate they were deeply entrenched in the
community’s social traditions and exemplify the cultural continuity of the people and
place.
Residential and Ceramic Production Zones
Examination of the chronologically diagnostic ceramic and lithic artifact
deposition indicates that beginning around 1150 BC, a series of residential and ceramic
production areas appeared in Fields 1, 2, 3, and 4. Based on the site’s geomorphological
resources (i.e., numerous colored clays and fine sand tempering agents), along with
ethnohistoric and archaeological evidence, it appears that El Marquesillo’s inhabitants
produced substantial quantities of ceramic vessels throughout much of its occupational
history (c. 1150 BC to AD 1000).
Today, the river cut bank creates the eastern terminus of Field 3, and this portion
has been identified as a residential zone based on the deposition and type of surface
artifacts and examination of the upper stratigraphy of the river cut bank. Extending
approximately 70 m west of the cut is a level, slightly elevated area. Early Formative
through Late Classic period ceramics were recovered here in the 2003 surface collection.
During 2004 field season, the entire east half of the field was mechanically tilled in
preparation for planting. A subsequent pedestrian survey of the exposed area revealed an
intensity of domestic ceramic and lithic artifacts limited to the same area as the surface
collected material. The continuity of chronologically diagnostic ceramics and the limited
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