Burned Palaces and Elite Residences of Aguateca

Excavations and Ceramics

Edited by Takeshi Inomata, Daniela Triadan

The settlement of Aguateca, Guatemala, rapidly abandoned at the end of the Classic period (ca. AD 810), provides archaeological insight into the political, social, and economic lifestyle of Maya elite. Located at the southern end of the Petexabatun region, Aguateca is unique amoung Classic Maya sites, primarily as a result of its Pompeii-like level of preservation.

Accompanied by clear and impressive illustrations, Burned Palaces and Elite Residences of Aguateca provides a summary of the meticulously documented excavations. While most ceramic reports in the Maya area focus on descriptions of types or classes of ceramics, the work of Takeshi Inomata and Daniela Triadan details the unique attributes and contexts of each vessel, leading to further understanding of life and social relations among the Maya

Burned Palaces and Elite Residences of Aguateca advances Maya archaeology by documenting the function of multiroomed masonry buildings and providing vivid models of daily life of the Classic Maya elite. This volume, one of a three-volume series, is the definitive report on Aguateca.

Takeshi Inomata is director of the Aguateca Archaeological Project and an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona.

Daniela Triadan is co-director of the Aguateca Archaeological Project and an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona. She is also a research assistant with the Smithsonian Insti-tute.

Table of Contents:

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction - Takeshi Inomata

Part A: Excavation
2. The Palace Group - Takeshi Inomata and Erick Ponciano
3. The Elite Residential Area -Takeshi Inomata, Daniela Triadan, and Erick Ponciano
4. The Barranca Escondida - Takeshi Inomata and Markus Eberl
5. Test Pits in Other Locations - Takeshi Inomata

Part B: Ceramics
6. Introduction to the Ceramics Study at Aguateca - Takeshi Inomata
7. The Temporal and Spatial Distributions of Ceramics - Takeshi Inomata
8. Complete, Reconstructible, and Partial Vessels - Takeshi Inomata, Daniela Triadan, and Estela Pinto
9. Complete and Reconstructible Drums - Takeshi Inomata, Daniela Triadan, and Estela Pinto
10. Formation Processes of the Ceramic Assemblages - Takeshi Inomata

References
Index

Praise and Reviews:

"This is a major primary contribution to our knowledge of the southern lowland Classic Maya. This monograph will be purchased by all serious Mayanists and will be used and referenced as long as there is a discipline of Maya archaeology."—David Freidel, Washington University, St. Louis

"Because of the wealth of material left behind when Aguateca was abruptly abandoned, the book will be of broad interest to Maya archaeologists, students, and those interested in the ancient Maya, as well as archaeologists broadly interested in site abandonment, community settlement patterns, and the processes that lead to the deposition of artifacts in buildings later discovered by archaeologists. In this way, the volume is of great significance both to Mayanists and to a wider audience of archaeologists."—Heather McKillop, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge