The Ceramic Sequence of Piedras Negras, Guatemala: Type and Varieties

     
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The Chacalhaaz Ceramic Phase (A.D. 750–A.D. 850)

The Chacalhaaz ceramic phase lasts from approximately A.D. 750 to A.D. 850.  Chacalhaaz ceramics are found in great quantities in all areas of the site, including every peripheral residential group excavated (Amy Kovak, personal communication 2002). Chacalhaaz is defined by major reduction in the frequency of resist decorated ceramics and an increase in the frequency of positive painting. The most common decorative motif consists of vertical red bars on the exteriors of shallow plates with and without tripod supports. A few examples of vessels decorated in this way have painted designs on their interiors. One particularly well-preserved example is decorated with a leaping fish. It seems likely that many more examples of this type, Bolonchac Orange Polychrome, were decorated with interior designs. However, these are often eroded beyond recognition through use or post-depositional processes.

Another diagnostic motif is the use of a monkey, typically seated, with an arm outstretched and palm upturned on the exteriors of large serving vessels. The origin of this motif is unknown, but it may be related to the decoration found incised on the exteriors of some Chablekal Fine Gray vessels. The frequency of appearance of this and related fine paste types serves as the third major diagnostic for the Chacalhaaz ceramic phase.

Between Yaxche and Chacalhaaz, there is a clear increase in vessels size. During Chacalhaaz serving, storage, and cooking vessels increase dramatically in size and are more heavily built than functionally equivalent forms in the preceding phase. This change in vessel size is accompanied by other important changes in vessel form. These include the appearance of incurving basin with bolstered rims, straight-sided basins with triangular rims, bowls with out-curving walls, and shallow, unslipped plates resembling comales.

Tres Naciones Fine Gray and Fine Orange appear at Seibal no later than about A.D. 830.  At Piedras Negras, the appearance of these types marks the end of the Chacalhaaz ceramic phase and the beginning of the Terminal Classic Kumche phase. Given Piedras Negras peripheral location, it is likely that Tres Naciones and Altar group fine pastes arrived no earlier than about A.D. 850.  Their appearance at the site marks the end of Piedras Negras as a regional power.

Endnote

4. This represents an incomplete listing of the Chablekal type and varieties. A more complete listing will be presented in Rands’ forthcoming volume on the Palenque region fine pastes.

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