Developments in Ceramic Materials Research

Postclassic Maya Ceramic Advances 7
because these levels of classification convey information about geographical location, time
period, decoration, and function (Rice 1982:50). Three paste-based (as opposed to slip-based)
wares had been identified in previous studies of these materials: Snail-Inclusion, Vitzil
Orange-Red, and Clemencia Cream (Chase 1983; Rice 1979). These distinctive wares were
used in producing the five slipped Postclassic ceramic groups that were used in the analysis of
technological styles: Paxcamán, Fulano, and Trapeche in Snail-Inclusion Paste ware,
Augustine in Vitzil Orange-Red Paste ware, and Topoxté in Clemencia Cream Paste ware
(Table 1). 1 As part of the classification procedure, information was recorded concerning slip
color, thickness, and degree of fireclouding, decorative programs, and combination of motifs.
While the type-variety system is the primary method for pottery classification in
Mesoamerica, there are many assumptions and problems with this kind of classification. First,
pottery types do not necessarily correspond to different cultural affiliations, potter’s
knowledge, potter’s capacity, or accidents of production (Shepard 1956:317). Second, many
archaeologists magnify slight differences and unnecessarily define new pottery types (Ball
1982; Forsyth 1989; Rice 1976). This is a result of archaeologists not adhering to the original
classification rules. Finally, a strict use of the type-variety system often leads to
misclassification of sherds that come from the same vessel. Because of differences in firing
over the surface or a vessel, uneven erosion patterns due to deposition or placement of
decoration or slip on a vessel, sherds from the same vessel may appear as two distinct types
(Demarest 1986). While there are limitations to this descriptive methodology, it is the
commonly-used schema by which Mesoamerican archaeologists discuss ceramics and as long
as the researcher understands these limitations, type-variety analysis of a ceramic sample can
be fruitful.
Mineralogical Analysis—Petrographic Analysis
In order to further investigate the possibility of different manufacturing recipes that may
contribute to technological and stylistic groupings that reflect Postclassic Maya sociopolitical
identity, I examined 278 sherds from the different pottery wares that were excavated from
Ch’ich’, Ixlú, Zacpetén, and Tipuj. I non-randomly chose samples from the larger 551 data set
to ensure that paste variability visible to the unaided eye was represented. Petrographic
analysis allowed me to identify minerals that were present in the clay pastes of different
vessels. Petrography allows analysis of many clay materials and inclusions at one time. One
1 A stratified random sample of 551 sherds was selected to represent the diversity present in the total sample to be
used in the subsequent analyses. After conducting the typological analysis, I determined the variability present
(pottery pastes, decorative, and excavated structures represented) and selected a smaller proportional
allocation with the goal of selecting 50 decorated sherds from each ceramic group and archaeological site. In
cases where 50 decorated sherds were not available, I selected monochrome slipped sherds by stratified
random sampling. First, I placed all decorated sherds from one site on a table grouped according to the
identification number of the structure from which they were recovered. Second, I ascertained the number of
pottery types and varieties represented at each structure. The number of sherds per type and variety and
structure determined the number to be randomly selected and the number selected varied depending on the
structure, so that buildings with more decorated types were sampled more often. Third, each lot number was
recorded on a piece of paper and the numbers were placed in a container according to the structure, type, and
variety. The predetermined number of sherds to be selected for each structure determined how many lot
numbers were drawn for inclusion in the sample.