Salvamento Arqueológico en Dzibilchaltún, Yucatán, México
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Research Year:  1998
Culture:  Maya
Chronology:  Pre-Columbian
Location:  Yucatán, México
Site:  Dzibilchaltún

Introduction

Dissertation: Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

"EMPTY SPACE", THE PROBLEM AND ITS EXPLANATION

DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
- Functions of domestic units
- Definition of domestic units of habitation or domestic units of production

CHAPTER II

MAYA DOMESTIC UNITS
a. Domestic Unit - definition
b. Domestic units as areas of economic activity
- Differences between domestic units of habitation in terms of production
- Conceptual problems to the functional interpretation of the domestic units
c. Domestic units - functions
- Production and domestic contexts
- Ethnographic models and specialization
- Samples of domestic units of production
- Studies on lithic technology
d. Domestic units excavated in level surfaces
- Domestic units excavated at site of Dzibilchaltún
Summary

CHAPTER III

EMPTY SPACE IN THE MAYA COMMUNITIES
a. Studies of empty space between structures
- Problems for the interpretation of the empty spaces in the Maya sites
- Relationship between empty spaces and the patrons of Maya settlement
- Relationship between empty spaces, settlement patrons, & cultivation areas
- Map of Maya sites and their interpretation
- Investigations in Tikal and others sites in Petén
- Investigations in Sayil
- Work done in Mayapán
- Brief mention of the site of Teotihuacán
b. The case of the "Methodology of Seeing" applied to Komchén, N. Yucatán
c. Alterations that surface and archaeological materials suffer
- Cases of mapping sacbeob
- The empty spaces of Dzibilchaltún
Summary

CHAPTER IV

RESCUE OF THE MUSEUM AREA
a. Types of rescue
b. The politics of the Museum: past and present
c. Archaeology of the rescue operation practiced in the Peninsula
d. Rescue of Dzibilchaltún
e. Salvage precedents
- Localization of the Rescue area
- Previous investigation of the area
- Objectives
f. Methodology
- Recognizing the area
- Nomenclature
- Locating area and surface collection
g. Excavations
- Excavation techniques
- Stratigraphy of the rescue area

CHAPTER V

EXCAVATIONS IN THE STRUCTURES
a. Rectangular, single room structures
b. Rectangular, single structure with incipient platform
c. Apsidal structures, single room
d. Rectangular structure with more than one room, with incipient platform

ARCHAEOLOGY MATERIALS ANALYSIS
a. Ceramic materials analysis
- Chronological frame work
- Ceramic group
- Artifacts analysis
b. Lithic material analysis
- Stucco
- Glass crystal
- Obsidian
- Green Stone
c. Artifacts analysis
- Beads and pendants
- Bone objects
- Conch objects
- Mosaic objects
- Metal objects
d. Origin of artifacts and chronology context
- Rectangular structures of one room (without platform)
- Rectangular structures of one room with platform
- Apsidal Structures of one room, (without platform)
- Rectangular structures with two rooms, and incipient platform
- Structure: Room 2

CHAPTER VI

RESCUE AREA ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE
a. Analysis of the structure
- Distribution of the structures in the rescue area
- Comparison of structures of the site with those of the rescue
- Rescue area architectonic types
b. Rescue area structure analysis with relation to ceramics complex
c. Structure distributions with relation to the patron of the center of the site
d. The rescue area with relation to the patron of the center of the site
e. Rescue area analysis in relation to the chronology and density population
f. "Empty Space" analysis in the site plan

CHAPTER VII

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
a. Archaeological considerations of Dzibilchaltún site
b. Empty spaces in Maya sites
- Maya maps of sites
c. Conclusions on the cultural signs found: domestic units identification
- Archaeological indicators of the sociopolitical status in the rescue area
- Conceptual difference and material between domestic units
d. Distribution of domestic units in empty space & relationship to site patron
e. Social and economic interpretation of the rescue area to the site
f. Final Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AREA OF MUSEUM APPENDIX

INDEX OF FIGURES

INDEX OF TABLES INSERTED IN THE TEXT (CAPS. V and VI)

INDEX OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Introduction

The information obtained in this thesis was a product of an archaeological rescue carried out in the Dzibilchaltún site, Yucatán, during the construction of the Pueblo Maya museum in the year 1993. Work included investigations of the localization and the possible functions in pre-Hispanic times, the perished material structures found in an apparently empty space in the site, as well as the explication of their presence in that context.

The exploration work and the excavation were done under the direction of archaeologist Rubén Maldonado, then director of the Dzibilchaltún project. The subsequent studies in 1997 at the site resulted in the analysis of recouped cultural materials, which have been manifested in several subsequent reports and two license-theses completed.

It was necessary to select an area for the Maya Pueblo Museum construction at the site Dzibilchaltún from the archaeology map made by the MARI group (Middle American Research Institute) during the 60’s, that did not contain archaeological remains and yet was next to the center of the site. The place selected for the construction of the new Museum was located close to the center of the site and 80 meters to the north of Sacbé 1 (Figure 1). After this apparently empty space was chosen at Dzibilchaltún, a very meticulous pre-inspection was done, resulting in a detection of several pre-Hispanic structures that did not appear in the plan.

Figure 1: Trazo Museo del Pueblo Maya

The rescue work in this area was implemented precisely because the discoveries of these vestiges. The architectonic analysis of all the ceramics, lithic, and the interpretation of them constitute the most of the information contained in this thesis.

The most important points and arguments discussed in this thesis are aimed at determining the role of the materials found, to interpret the area, and the particular spaces in which they were found. Such arguments are also directed to demonstrate the functionality the structures had in the place, in terms of habitation and production. The results of the investigations on the functionality of domestic units that are located in studies of similar cases realized in others places will be of considerable value.

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Submitted 05/01/2000 by: