Abstract

Using Handheld XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence), this thesis explores how household economies at two Maya archaeological sites, Coba and Yaxuna, differed during a period of expansion and integration from the Early to Late Classic transition period (A.D. 500-750/800). Previous research suggests that during this time, Yaxuna was under the direction of Coba, however, due to the lack of household archaeology at both sites, how the bridging of these two centers impacted households and their domestic economies remains unknown. A compositional analysis of 1,186 obsidian artifacts recovered by the Proyecto de Interaccion Politica del Centro de Yucatan and the Proyecto Sacbe Yaxuna-Coba suggests household groups at Coba and Yaxuna had differential access to obsidian sources throughout the Classic period. While Coba and Yaxuna both exploited obsidian sources consistent with the overarching trend of obsidian consumption in the Classic period Maya lowlands, residents at Yaxuna exploited a greater diversity of obsidian sources. This variation is similar to that found at other Classic period centers of the northern lowlands. Yaxuna's greater access to obsidian sources may not only be related to its role in widespread trade networks from the Middle Formative into the Classic periods, but also to Coba's interest and incorporation of the site. This research is the first to explore household consumption of obsidian during the Early to Late Classic periods at Coba and Yaxuna, therefore contributing an essential bottom-up approach to understanding the socioeconomic relationship between these two centers during a period of expansion and integration.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2020

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Kovacevich, Brigitte

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Degree Program

Anthropology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008051; DP0023191

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023191

Language

English

Release Date

May 2020

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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