ORCID

5656132

Keywords

Mesoamerica ritual cache Terminal Formative Oaxaca

Abstract

Archaeological excavations in the lower Río Verde valley in Oaxaca, Mexico, have uncovered a rich history of ritual practices in the region. A key element to these practices was the public and restricted interment of ritual deposits, including caches and grave offerings, which can be found at sites throughout the region. Previous research has indicated that the context and content of these ritual deposits have implications for local identity, regional political centralization, and the development of social complexity. In particular, it has been argued that idiosyncrasy in cache content indicates the limitations of the regional political centralization of the Terminal Formative period (150 BCE – 250 CE). This study compares the ritual practices at various Terminal Formative period sites to identify the degree of regional standardization and regional idiosyncrasy to support or refute these arguments. The study revealed several standardized practices, including deposition of caches within or near architectural features, the inclusion of certain types of ceramics, and the inclusion of stone artifacts. However, there were a greater number of idiosyncratic practices, such as the frequency of caches being deposited with architectural features, various caching containment practices, and the inclusion of certain cache materials such as crystal, greenstone, and human remains. The study identified Cerro de la Virgen as having a high number of unique practices, as well as a similarity in the ritual practices at Yugüe and San Francisco de Arriba.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Barber, Sarah

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053199

Release Date

5-15-2027

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Available for download on Saturday, May 15, 2027

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