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

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

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<strong>of</strong>f is dramatic to say <strong>the</strong> least. Third, <strong>the</strong> evenness <strong>of</strong> ceramic artifact distribution per<br />

grid segment across <strong>the</strong> surface is strik<strong>in</strong>g; <strong>the</strong> mean is 82.8 sherds, <strong>the</strong> mode is 81<br />

sherds, and <strong>the</strong> median is 67 sherds. Fourth, chronologically diagnostic ceramics<br />

demonstrate distribution occurred cont<strong>in</strong>uously and consistently from <strong>the</strong> Early<br />

Formative to <strong>the</strong> Late Classic. The deposit ratios by time period with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> PDZ are<br />

parallel to <strong>the</strong> temporal proportions represented by <strong>the</strong> entire ceramic assemblage from all<br />

sources.<br />

<strong>An</strong> additional feature appears related to <strong>the</strong> PDZ as well. <strong>An</strong> anomalous<br />

accumulation <strong>of</strong> ceramic sherds was present 50 m south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> PDZ. Survey grid block<br />

N7-W3 conta<strong>in</strong>ed 816 ceramic pieces, all domestic wares. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, 17 percent <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> entire site surface assemblage was recovered with<strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle 50 m x 50 m unit.<br />

Therefore, <strong>the</strong> PDZ and grid unit N7-W3 compose only 8.8 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> collection<br />

surface but account for 49 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> entire ceramic assemblage. No o<strong>the</strong>r area,<br />

<strong>in</strong>dependently or collectively, with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> site approaches <strong>the</strong>se proportions, quantitatively<br />

or spatially.<br />

Although it is possible that <strong>the</strong> PDZ was a residential area, a number <strong>of</strong> aspects<br />

seem atypical. Why was <strong>the</strong> area so tightly conscripted and <strong>the</strong> depositional pattern so<br />

consistent over a period <strong>of</strong> approximately 2100 years? Regardless <strong>of</strong> any <strong>in</strong>crease or<br />

decrease <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> quantity <strong>of</strong> chronologically diagnostic material, <strong>the</strong> spatial area rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />

constant. The l<strong>in</strong>ear anomaly and <strong>the</strong> extended causeway that diagonally bisects <strong>the</strong> zone<br />

do not seem to correspond to Mesoamerican residential patterns.<br />

If <strong>the</strong> zone was a refuse or disposal site, <strong>the</strong> same basic arguments apply. Why<br />

would a trash disposal site be located directly on what appears to be an important or<br />

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