DECODING the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE of PROBLEMATIC DEPOSITS in the MAYA LOWLANDS

James J. Aimers; Julie A. Hoggarth; Jaime J. Awe

doi:10.1017/S0956536119000208

DECODING the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE of PROBLEMATIC DEPOSITS in the MAYA LOWLANDS

James J. Aimers, Julie A. Hoggarth, Jaime J. Awe

Anthropology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The term "problematical deposits" was coined decades ago at Tikal to refer to special deposits that were neither burials nor caches. Since that time, the term has been expanded to refer to a range of deposits that have puzzled archaeologists. In this paper we review the various interpretations that have been offered for these deposits including de facto refuse, squatter deposits, and the remains of dedication or termination ritual, feasting, or pilgrimage. We argue that the superficial similarity of these deposits can make it difficult to identify the range of activities that they represent and that detailed contextual analysis is required to distinguish them. We offer some of the archaeological correlates that have been associated with different types of problematic deposits.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	67-75
Number of pages	9
Journal	Ancient Mesoamerica
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536119000208
State	Published - Mar 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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abstract = "The term {"}problematical deposits{"} was coined decades ago at Tikal to refer to special deposits that were neither burials nor caches. Since that time, the term has been expanded to refer to a range of deposits that have puzzled archaeologists. In this paper we review the various interpretations that have been offered for these deposits including de facto refuse, squatter deposits, and the remains of dedication or termination ritual, feasting, or pilgrimage. We argue that the superficial similarity of these deposits can make it difficult to identify the range of activities that they represent and that detailed contextual analysis is required to distinguish them. We offer some of the archaeological correlates that have been associated with different types of problematic deposits.",

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DECODING the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE of PROBLEMATIC DEPOSITS in the MAYA LOWLANDS

Abstract

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