Developments in Ceramic Materials Research

Postclassic Maya Ceramic Advances 15
not in others). While double slipping occurs on some of the earlier Postclassic pottery, most
later Postclassic red slips are thin and have not been burnished resulting in a matte finish.
This matte finish erodes easily. While the majority of Postclassic slips are thin, excavations at
Ch’ich’, Zacpetén, and Tipuj yielded small quantities of Postclassic pottery with highly
burnished, glossy red slips (they are not double slipped). These slips are thicker and not
eroded.
Figure 3. Petén Postclassic pottery decorated with A) hook motifs and B) reptilian motifs. Both sherds
represent the Ixpop Polychrome type and were excavated from Zacpetén.
Mineralogical Analyses
Within each of the three ceramic wares, variations in the type and quantity of mineral and
organic inclusions provides information to suggest that Postclassic Maya potters were making
different “recipes” with similar colored clays. Clemencia Cream Paste ware sherds have three