Cambridge University Press Latin American Antiquity

ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT AND CONTENTS OF AN ULUA-STYLE MARBLE VASE FROM
THE PALMAREJO VALLEY, HONDURAS

Author(s): E. Christian Wells, Karla L. Davis-Salazar, José E. Moreno-Cortés, Glenn S. L.
Stuart and Anna C. Novotny
Source: Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 25, No. 1 (March 2014), pp. 82-100
Published by: Cambridge University Press
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ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT AND CONTENTS OF AN ULUA-STYLE
MARBLE VASE FROM THE PALMAREJO VALLEY, HONDURAS
E. Christian Wells, Karla L. Davis-Salazar, José E. Moreno-Cortés,

Glenn S. L. Stuart, and Anna C. Novotný
Ulúa-style marble vases played important social, political, economic, and religious roles in southern Mesoamerica during
the seventh through eleventh centuries A.D. However, most such vessels known to archaeologists are part of looted collec-
tions or else were unearthed before the advent of modern archaeological practices. As a result, little is known about the
context, use, and chronology of these objects. Recent investigations at the site of Palos Blancos in northwest Honduras dis-
covered an Ulúa-style marble vase in an undisturbed mortuary context. Excavation of the burial context, along with bioar-
chaeological and stable isotope analysis of the human remains, suggests that the vase was placed as an offering, possibly
to an ancestor of the residential group. Phosphate and pollen studies indicate that the vase once held a corn-based bever-
age. Radiocarbon dating of four charcoal samples from immediately below and adjacent to the vase yielded a range of dates
from the beginning of the Late Classic period, ca. AD. 600-800. Through analyses of the context and contents of the vase,
this research contributes to a more holistic understanding of the use and meaning of Ulúa-style marble vases in southern
Mesoamerica.
Los vasos de mármol del estilo Ulúa desempeñaron importantes papeles sociales, políticos, económicos, y religiosos en
de Mesoamérica durante los siglos séptimo a onceavo d.C. Sin embargo, la mayoría de dichas vasijas conocidas por l
ólogos forman parte de colecciones saqueadas o fueron desenterradas antes de la disponibilidad de prácticas arque
modernas. Como resultado, se sabe muy poco sobre su contexto, uso, y cronología. Excavaciones recientes en el si
Blancos en el Valle de Palmarejo en el noroeste de Honduras descubrieron un vaso de mármol del estilo Ulúa en un
mortuorio intacto. Este trabajo reporta los resultados de los análisis del depósito y de los contenidos del vaso, así
datación de materias orgánicas asociadas con el hallazgo. El contexto del entierro así como los análisis bioarqueol
de isótopos estables de los restos humanos sugieren que el vaso fue colocado como una ofrenda hecha tal vez a un
del grupo residencial. Los estudios de fosfatos y del polen indican que el vaso alguna vez contuvo una bebida de m
datación por radiocarbono de cuatro muestras de carbón tomadas inmediatamente debajo y adyacentes al vaso prov
serie de fechas (cal. 2<j 595 ±55, 615 ±45, 625 ±45, 705 ±65 d.C.) que corresponden principalmente al principio de
odo Clásico Tardío, ca. 600-800 d.C. Un espécimen en directa asociación con los restos humanos brindó una fecha
2<j 495 ± 85 d.C., sugiriendo que el vaso no fue añadido al conjunto funerario hasta un siglo después del entierro i
través de los análisis del contexto y del contenido del vaso, esta investigación contribuye a una comprensión más
del uso y significado de los vasos de mármol del estilo Ulúa en el sur de Mesoamérica.
don 1991; LeCount 2001; Luke 2010; McAnany

a major source of cacao and other significant 2010; Masson and Freidel 2002; Schortman and
In raw a major prehispanicas well
raw materials materials sourceproducts
as finished times, asforof well cacao northwest as finished and other Honduras products significant was for Urban 2011). However, archaeological work has
many lowland Maya cities, whose social and re- demonstrated that northwest Honduras was not an
ligious commitments required great quantities of economically underdeveloped, politically ho-

these products to fuel their luxury economies mogenous periphery from which such strategic
(Foias and Emery 2012; Henderson 1992; Hen- goods could be extracted without recompense
E. Christian Wells, Karla L. Davis-Salazar, and José E. Moreno-Cortés ■ Department of Anthropology, University of
South Rorida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620 USA (ecwells@usf.edu; karladavis@usf.edu; jmoreno@mail.usf.edu)
Glenn S. L. Stuart ■ Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Saskatchewan, 55 Campus Drive,
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B1 Canada (glenn.stuart@usask.ca)
Anna C. Novotný ■ School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402
USA (anna.novotny@asu.edu)
Latin American Antiquity 25(1), 2014, pp. 82-100

Copyright © 2014 by the Society for American Archaeology
82
THEMED REPORT SECTION ON MICROBOTANICAL AND MULTI-PROXY ANALYSIS 83
(Joyce 1993; Schortman and Urban 1996;esía andUrban

neighboring hamlets- Santa Ana, La
and Schortman 1999). Lowland MayaMora, and Peor es Nada) and in cached deposits
potentates
and tombscon-
had to forge political alliances and economic at Copán, El Abra, Salitron Viejo,
Tenampua,
tracts with their Honduran peers, which Yarumela, and Orica.
fostered
the development of a cultural landscape Through com-
stable isotope analysis, Luke and col-
leagues (2006;
posed of competing markets for Honduran prod- Luke and Tykot 2007) have
ucts (Joyce 1991; Schortman and demonstrated
Urban 1994; that most vessels originated from
Sheptak 1987), including competitionquarries
within near
andthe community of Travesía. Indi-
among Honduran polities for theviduals sameoutside
goods of this region likely acquired vases
(Joyce and Henderson 2007; Lopiparo through2003;
gifting and long distance exchange (Luke
Schortman and Urban 2012). 2012:122). Following Joyce (1986:324, 1991,
Among the products that appear to 1993),
have Luke (2012) argues that vase style played
been
in high demand were elaborate and an intricately
important role in marking identity, that most of
carved vessels made of white marble and crafted the vessels probably represented the community
of Travesía as symbols of place, and that some
by skilled artisans in the Ulua Valley during the
first millennium A.D. (Gordon 1920, 1921; Luke vessels may have been manufactured specifically
2002, 2012; Stone 1938). These containers, rep- for patrons in distant settlements.
resenting both cylinders and drums, were deco- Despite the important social, political, eco-
rated with sculpted scrolls or volutes that wrapnomic, and religious roles that Ulua-style marble
vases appear to have played in Mesoamerican
around the exterior and frame zoomorphic or
anthropomorphic figures emerging from oppo- prehistory, we know surprisingly little about their
contexts of use, because most examples come
site sides of the vase to form lugs or handles (for
from looted collections (Luke 2006; Luke and
examples, see Luke 2008). The entire scene is
Henderson 2006) or were excavated before the
often framed by a border of repeating geometric
advent of modern archaeological techniques
designs, including scales, voussures (repeating
half-moon shapes), interlocking keys, and circles(Hendersonl992: 164-166). Less than half of the
with a central dot. Vases thought to be earlier in
166 vases known to reside in museums and repos-
itories have secure proveniences (Luke et al.
date have simple design schemes with bird, bat,
2006:19). Since the vast majority of vases have
or monkey handles, while varieties thought to be
later in date have more complex design pro- not been excavated scientifically, very little is
grams and feline or composite feline/serpentknown about how these vessels were used in an-
cient southeastern Mesoamerican societies. More-
handles (Luke 2002:62-64). Many, but not all,
vases have ring or tripod supports, which are
over, while marble fragments and a few whole
also variably decorated with incised patterns
vases have been found in association with poly-
(Luke 2002:62). chrome pottery diagnostic of the Late Classic pe-
The containers were used in a variety of con-riod, ca. A.D. 600-800, the precise dating of these
texts, including dedicatory caches and mortuary objects remains unclear.
programs, and were distributed widely across Recently, during our excavations in the Pal-
southeastern Mesoamerica, lower Central America,marejo Valley of northwest Honduras, we dis-
and into the central Maya lowlands. Ulua-stylecovered an Ulua-style marble vase associated
marble vases and vase fragments have been re-with a mortuary assemblage containing two hu-
covered from royal tombs in the Maya lowlands atman burials underneath a residential building
Altun Ha, Uaxactun, San José, and Chac Balam on (Davis-Salazar, Wells, and Moreno-Cortés 2007).
Ambergris Caye, as well as from various locales in
In this article, we report the details and context of
the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, including the vase and burials, along with the results of
Ortega, Nacascolo, Vidor, and Iguanita (see Luke analyses of sediment, pollen, and charcoal asso-
2008, 2010 for a review of the evidence). In Hon- ciated with these deposits.1 We also discuss the
duras, marble vases have been found in high con- vase's significance to Honduran and Mesoamer-
ican archaeology.
centrations in the Ulua Valley (specifically, at Trav-
84 LATIN AMERICAN ANTIQUITY [Vol. 25, No. 1, 2014]
Figure 1. Northwest Honduras, showing the Palmarejo Valle
Cultural and Historical Context and luxury goods, including kiln-fired pottery
and figurines, prismatic obsidian blades, and pos-
The Palmarejo Valley is situated betweensibly
thetextiles. Initially, during the Late Classic
(ca. A.D. 600-800), the manufacture of these
Ulua and Chamelecon rivers in northwest Hon-
duras (Figure 1). The valley is a side pocket of items
the was limited to La Sierra, yet the products
were widely distributed throughout the valley
larger and archaeologically better known Naco
(Schortman et al. 2001; Urban et al. 1997). One
Valley, which encompasses 92 km2 of alluvial
hypothesis
bottomlands watered by the Chamelecon River as to account for this pattern is that La
Sierra's
it carves its way through the southern boundary of political leaders and their families ex-
the Sierra de Omoa. The earliest inhabitants of the
changed locally manufactured craft items with
Naco Valley, who were probably ancestral to the valley farmers for subsistence resources and, pos-
modern-day Lenca of central Honduras, first set-sibly, surplus labor (Schortman and Urban 1994).
tled the region by 1200 B.C. (Urban et al. 2002). As a result, rural farmers may have lost their au-
By about A.D. 600, the valley hosted a populationtonomy in decision making and other political
in the low tens of thousands organized into a hi-realms as they grew reliant upon La Sierra's elite
erarchy of settlements of different sizes. The for some of the material necessities of daily life.
largest community was La Sierra, which included Later, in the Terminal Classic (ca. A.D.
the residences of some of the region's elite fam- 800-1000), specialized workshops and their prod-
ilies, who lived in expansive palatial buildingsucts became more widespread throughout the val-
surrounding courtyards, patios, plazas, and a ball-ley, suggesting dispersal of power networks
court. La Sierra's residents had direct access to ex-
(Schortman and Urban 2004, 2012).
tensive clay deposits and other natural resources, Our recent archaeological investigations in the
as well as a host of domestic workshops whose in-environs of the Naco Valley have sought to test
habitants manufactured a range of both utilitarianthese ideas by examining the political and ritual
Figure 2. Archaeological sites in the Palmarejo Valley, Honduras, showing the location of Palos Blancos
economy of outlying settlements in2004, 2006, 2008). Most of these settlements re

La Sierra's
hinterland (Wells and Davis-Salazar 2008).
resentSince
villages and farmsteads, situated on ri
2003, we have mapped and investigated the re- soils created by the merger of colluv
agricultural
fans
mains of 96 settlements of varying size and from flanking mountain ranges. Based on t
shape
presencecom-
that were arranged into five spatially discrete of probable prehispanic agricultural t
races, water
munities spread throughout the Palmarejo Valleymanagement features, the distributi
of field
(Figure 2), all of which appear to have been houses
oc- (single, low-lying buildings lo
cupied throughout the Classic period,catedca.
at A.D.
least 100 m away from residential sett
400-1000, based on ceramic seriationment),
and radio-
and local geomorphology, all of the com
carbon assays of samples obtained frommunities appear to have been variously engaged
stratified
deposits (Davis-Salazar, Moreno-Cortés, and pursuits (Darley 201 1 ; Hawken 20
agricultural
Wells 2007; Davis-Salazar et al. 2005; Klinger
Wells et2008;
al. Wells et al. 2013).
Figure 3. Plan view of Palos Blancos, showing the location of Struc

58E-1 and 58E-2 and the marble vase.
Palos Blancos is one of the larger settlements

gether, the assemblages associated with the occu-
in the valley (Figure 3). This community has 42of the building strongly suggest a residen-
pation
buildings divided into two groups, both of tial function (Davis-Salazar et al. 2005:10-17).
which
skirt the southern edge of an ancient seasonal During excavation of the north side of Struc-
stream. Our research at the site focused on the ture 9, we encountered a burial (Burial 58E-1) ap-
East Group, where we investigated one range-typeproximately one meter below the ground surface
building, Structure 9, which measures approxi- containing the remains of a single adult (sex in-
mately 10 m by 5 m (oriented 30 degrees az-
determinate) in a flexed position, oriented east-to-
west, with the face looking to the south (Figure 4).
imuth), reaches roughly 2 m in height, and forms
The burial was sealed into the basal terrace of the
the northeast boundary of one of the largest patio
edifice, oriented perpendicular to the long axis of
groups at the site. The building's overall rectan-
gular shape and location in a patio group is con-
the structure, and is thus likely associated with the
sistent with residential compounds excavated building's initial construction, which we hypoth-
esize took place in the Early Classic period, based
elsewhere in the valley (Davis-Salazar et al. 2005;
Novotný 2007). Excavations included a trench on the presence of temporally-diagnostic Cham-
elecon and Ulua (red) polychrome pottery found
over the central axis of the building and associated
in the terrace fill. A second burial (Burial 58E-2,
horizontal clearing of the summit, probes at the
four corners of the structure, and a block excava-
Figure 5) was uncovered 30-40 cm above Burial
tion (Operation 58E) on the north side of the
58E-1, associated with a later remodeling of the
building, which had been damaged slightly by building
an (Figure 6), which we hypothesize took
adjacent cattle path. place in the early part of the Late Classic, based
Excavation of Structure 9 revealed that the on the presence of five Ulúa (maroon) poly-
chrome sherds (Type Travesía: Variety Monkey)
building most likely served as an elite residence,
composed of three superimposed terraces linkedfound in the fill associated with the remodeling.
by a central staircase that leads to a summit once
The Palos Blancos Vase
covered by a perishable superstructure made from
The Ulua-style marble vase was found immedi-
wattle and daub. The top of the building supports
ately adjacent to the east side of the skull of Bur-
a 5-m-long bench (a built-in platform, presumably
ial 58E-1 , located approximately 10 cm horizon-
used for sleeping) along the back wall and a pos-
sible stone wall dividing the space into two inte-
tally from the temporal ridge of the cranium and
rior rooms. Materials recovered from the summit over a burned patch of soil containing numerous
and from a deeply stratified midden off the backcharcoal fragments (Figure 7). Other burned
(east) side of the building include various forms of patches of soil were found alongside the body,
pottery bowls, jars, and plates, along with a vari-also containing charcoal deposits. The vase mea-
ety of stone tools and a few faunai remains. To- sures 8.01 cm in diameter and 6.65 cm in height,
Figure 4. Plan view of Burial 58E-1 at Palos Blancos, showing the location of the marble vase an
dated (lettered A, F, G, H, and J).
Luke's
and its wall averages .48 cm thick; it weighs (2003:23-26)
3.48 "Group 2" vessels, esp
kg. It has a cylindrical form with two
ciallyhandles,
the example from the Gruener Collection
Pre-Columbian
each in the shape of a head of a leaf-nosed Art in the Cleveland Museum of
bat
Artelement
( Phyllostomidae ), similar to the main (CMA 1990.17.0;
of Young-Sánchez 1992:258;
the Copán emblem glyph ( zotz [Stuartsee also
andStone 1938:27; von Winning 1968:310).
Hous-
ton 1994:23-25]). The body of the vase is deco-
rated with rows and columns of volutes, offsetting
Bioarchaeological Study
a diamond-shaped symbol (sometimes interpreted
To and
as an "eye") placed on opposite sides, enhance our understanding of the mortuary
capped
on the top with a band of overlappingcontext of the Palos Blancos vase, a bioarchaeo-
serpent
logical
scales. The vase is similar in form and analysis
design toof the human remains encoun-
Figure 5. Plan view of Burial 58E-2 at Palos Blan
tered in the Structure 9 excavations was conducted combination of cranial traits, pelvic morphology,
(Novotný 2006). All data- including age, sex, and long bone measurements, as preservation al-
pathological conditions, and cultural lowed. Analysis of the dentition was undertaken
modification- were collected in accordance with according to the standards outlined in Buikstra
the procedures outlined by Buikstra and Ubelakerand Ubelaker (1994) and supplemented by Hillson
(1994). Age was estimated by dental wear or den-(1996) and White and Folkens (2006). Pathologies
were identified with reference to Ortner (2003).
tal eruption, although when preservation allowed,
epiphyseal closure, cranial suture, and pelvic mor-The bones of Burial 58E- 1 , sealed in the foun-
dations
phology were also used. Sex was determined by a of Structure 9, were those of an adult
Figure 6. Schematic cross-section of the excavation of Structure 9, showing the stratigraphie relationships between
Burials 58E-1 and 58E-2 and the marble vase.
Figure 7. Ulúa-style marble vase from Palos Blancos (photographs (upper) by Karla L. Davis-Salaza
by José H. Espinoza).
vancedfor
whose remains were too poorly preserved age any
(Hillson 2008). The left mandibular
canine of the
specific estimates of age, sex, or life history to individual
be in Burial 58E-2 was lost
made; less than 25 percent of the skeleton
antemortem,wasmost likely due to periodontal dis-
ease.but
present. Several teeth were recovered, The most
medial aspect of the alveolar socket
were fragmented. The bone fragments themselves
(shared by the left mandibular incisor) was normal
were identifiable only as cranial andandlong bone
the LI2 tooth was recovered.
fragments, but the outer surface of each Frontal, occipital, and other cranial fragments
bone had
been worn away so thoroughly thatofno further
Burial 58E-2 showed slight, healed porotic hy-
information could be collected. perostosis. This type of bone reaction could be the
The bones of Burial 58E-2, associated with theresult of nutritional deficiencies, such as scurvy
fill of a later building episode, were not well pre-
and certain types of anemia, and/or gastrointesti-
served either and were very fragmented; how- nal infections. Iron-deficiency anemia is often
ever, this individual was better preserved than cited as the cause of porotic hyperostosis among
Burial 58E-1. Less than 25 percent of the skele- the ancient Maya, since their diet relied heavily on
corn, a food low in iron and containing phytates
ton was present. Remains consisted of cranial, rib,
tarsal, and long bone fragments, as well as teeth.that bind to iron and slow its absorption in the
Sex was estimated to be probably male, and age body (Wright and Chew 1998), a deficiency only
at death was approximately young adult, 20-34, partly addressed by nixtamalization.2 However,
based on dental attrition. recent research suggests a different etiology for
Dental pathologies (calculus, caries, and ante-porotic hyperostosis among New World popula-
mortem tooth loss) are common in prehispanictions. Walker and colleagues (2009:119) argue
populations. Three teeth (LM3, LMļ, and RMj) that porotic hyperostosis may be the result of
showed carious lesions, and each tooth showed anemia caused by the combined effects of vitamin
some degree of calculus build-up, from very lit-B12 deficiency among nursing mothers and gas-
tle to a moderate amount. As carious lesions and
trointestinal pathogens incurred by infants during
calculus accumulation increase over time, their weaning. Vitamin B12 is found in high quantities
presence in Burial 58E-2 indicates slightly in
ad-animal protein, and lack of it results in mega-
Table 1 . Stable Isotope Data.
Sample Site
PACP-1 Palmarejo Midden burial -3.71 .708424 -5.13

PACP-2 Palos Blancos Burial 58E-1 -4.43 .708216 -4.57
PACP-3 Palmarejo Burial in fill unit -3.92 .708631 -4.84
PACP-4 El Morro Burial in terminal debris -3.37 .708191 -3.52
PACP-5 Palos Blancos Burial 58E-2
Note: All samp
Stable Isotope Analysis

loblastic an
Children and
showing the
To examine aspects of diet and mobility of the in-
the cranium
dividuals connected to the marble vase through the
their red
mortuary context, b
dental enamel from both burials
was subjected to multielemental stable isotope
2009:111). Th
nium of
analysis (87Sr/86Sr, 8180, and 813C).Bur
Dental enamel
from three additional burials
gesting that located in other parts
of the valley was also studied for comparison.
therefore m A
permanent first molar was selected from each
deficiency inin-
in dividual, since
the its enamel forms during late ges-of
diet
asites or other infection in the infant. Faunai re- tation and very early childhood and thus reflects
mains were scarce in the Palos Blancos excava- the location where an individual was born (Hillson
1996).
tions and would provide important information on The isotopes 180 and 13C of tooth enamel
carbonate were measured using an automated car-
the type and amount of protein available to those
bonate preparation device (KIEL-III) coupled to a
interred in Structure 9. Isotopes 15N and 13C from
bone collagen, in particular, would clarify thegas-ratio mass spectrometer (Finnigan MAT 252).
amount of protein consumed by residents ofThe Pa-isotope ratio 87Sr/86Sr was measured on a Nu
los Blancos. Plasma HR (Nu Instruments, Inc.), a high resolu-
Healed bone addition (sclerotic reaction) was
tion multi-collector, double-focusing, plasma-
source mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). Details
observed on a midshaft fragment of the right tibia,
the right ulna, and the left humerus. These reac-
of sample preparation and analysis can be found in
Price at al. (2002, 2008). The results of these
tions are likely evidence of localized infections
due to soft tissue trauma that became infected analyses appear in Table 1 .
and spread to the periosteal surface of the bone.Strontium and oxygen isotope ratios, as
All were well healed, suggesting that this indi-
recorded in human bone and teeth, can reveal ge-
vidual was relatively healthy or well cared forographic
in regions where individuals grew up, as
opposed to where they died (Price et al.
order to fight off such infections. Sclerotic reac-
tions can also be indicative of systemic infec-2010:22-30).3'4 Due to poor preservation, only
teeth were analyzed from the Palmarejo Valley.
tions, but there were not enough skeletal elements
Carbonate in dental enamel is more resistant to di-
preserved to observe patterns of skeletal involve-
ment from all parts of the body. agenetic contamination than bone carbonate
(Budd et al. 2000; Koch et al. 1997). Because first
Minor osteoarthritis was present on the distal
epiphysis of the left radius and on the body ofmolars
an were sampled, the isotope values pre-
unidentified vertebra, but it was not severe insented
ei- here represent residence and diet of indi-
ther case, and would not have impeded move-
viduals between birth and three years of age. A
scatterplot comparing the strontium and oxygen
ment. Osteoarthritis is common in prehistoric pop-
isotope data from the Palmarejo Valley burials
ulations in this region (Buikstra et al. 2004; Storey
2005), even in individuals of a young age, and shows
was that the individuals from Palos Blancos are
most likely the result of everyday activities. distinct from those from the rest of the valley
individuals in the study.7 However, there is a fair

-3.2000-1
Site
amount of variation within this sample,
■ B Morro from -3.5 %c to -5.1%c. This variation most likely
■ • Patmarejo
•3.4000- A Patos Blancos reflects differential access to maize over time and
could signal differences in social status (Scherer et
-3.6000- al. 2007; White and Schwarcz 1989). That the in-
dividual in Burial 58E-2 from Palos Blancos ex-
-3.8000- perienced porotic hyperostosis (probably caused
O
by dietary deficiencies), supports the idea that di-
00
T3 •
-4.0000- etary consumption among these individuals em-

phasized maize at the expense of vitamin B12-rich
animal proteins (Walker et al. 2009). Stable carbon
-4.2000- A
and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen
from these individuals, along with isotopie studies
-4.4000- A
of local fauna, could help to evaluate this idea by
- I
providing further insight into animal protein con-
.708000 .708200 .706400 .708600
87Sr*B6Sr
sumption at Palos Blancos (Tykot et al. 1996).
Figure 8. Scatterplot of strontium and oxygen isotope Phosphate Chemistry

ratios from the Palos Blancos burials, compared to those
from two other prominent settlements in the valley,
Seven samples of sediment from in and around
Palmarejo and El Morro.
the vase were analyzed for acid-extractable phos-
(Figure 8). 5 Compared to the individuals from
phate in order to determine the extent to which or-
the site of Palmarejo, both the strontium and oxy-
ganic material was originally present in the ves-
gen isotope values vary distinctively for the indi-
sel, as signaled by elevated levels of phosphate
viduals from Palos Blancos, although this differ-(Holliday and Gartner 2007; Wells and Moreno-
ence is not statistically significant at the a = .05
Cortés 2010). The results were compared to seven
level (Mann- Whitney, U = .00, z = -1 .55, p = .12).
control samples obtained from outside the ar-
This finding, together with the presence ofthe
chaeological zone in soil strata of the same depth
Ulúa-style marble vase in the burial context
and
and presumed age (based on similar stratigraphy
associated Ulua polychromes in the building's
and geomorphology near Structure 9) and in areas
construction fill, may suggest that some of that
the lack evidence for prehispanic human occu-
early Palos Blancos residents emigrated from pation
the or use.
nearby Ulua Valley. It is also possible that infantA 2.0 g portion was selected from each sample
weaning and supplementation practices differed and mixed with 20 ml of dilute Mehlich II acid (a
between social groups in the Palmarejo Valley combination
or of acetic, hydrochloric, and hydro-
between people in the Ulúa Valley and the Pal- fluoric acids with ammonium chloride, diluted
marejo Valley (Wright 2013; Wright and 1:10 with TVpe II deionized water) to extract
Schwarcz 1998). These possibilities merit fur- phosphate from the samples, following the pro-
ther evaluation for the Palos Blancos burials with
cedures outlined by Terry et al. (2000) and by
comparable isotope data from the Ulua Valley. Wells et al. (2000). 8 A DR/890 colorimeter was
Carbon isotope ratios may be used to under-used to quantify the concentration of phosphates
stand aspects of diet, due to differential fraction-in solution. Instrument blanks (Mehlich II) were
ation of atmospheric carbon dioxide during pho- processed with all samples, and sample concen-
tosynthesis between C3 plants such as temperate trations were corrected for deviations from these
grasses and C4 plants such as maize and otherstandards.
tropical grasses (Tykot 2004:434-436). 6 Stable The results appear in Table 2. The samples as-
carbon isotope data from the Palmarejo Valley sociated with the vessel contain concentrations of
suggest that maize (or some other C4 plant) was an
phosphate that are significantly elevated com-
important- but not central- part of the diet for all
pared to the control ("background") samples
92 LATIN AMERICAN ANTIQUITY [Vol. 25, No. 1 , 2014]
Table 2. Phosphate Concentrations.
Sample Context pH Total P (mg/kg) P04 (mg/kg) P205 (mg/kg)

58E-01 Below vessel 8.14 453.33 1381.25 1027.08
58E-03 Vessel fill 8.16 552.50 1707.08 1267.92
58E-05 Vessel fill 8.15 354.17 1090.83 814.58
58E-08 Organic material, Burial #2 7.84 460.42 1409.58 1055.42

Control samples (n = 7)a 7.71 59.20 181.54 135.39
amean values.
(Mann- Whitney U = 14.00, z = 2.05, p = .04).

acetolysis mixture (nine parts acetic anhydride to
When compared to phosphate levels detectedone
in part concentrated sulfuric acid) and placing the
local anthropogenic soils (see Rothenberg sample in a boiling water bath. The acetolysis mix-
2010:Table 5.1), the sediments inside the vase ture was decanted off, and the sample was then
have roughly four times higher concentrations of washed with glacial acetic acid and rinsed with
phosphate, strongly suggesting the deposition and demineralized water. The resulting polleniferous
long-term persistence of organic matter inside extract was rinsed in alcohol and stored in glycerol
the vase. This finding gives us confidence that the in one-dram vials. Pollen extracts were mounted,
results of our pollen analysis (described below) stained, and analyzed following the procedures
are not spurious and do represent the original outlined in Stuart (2007). 9
contents of the vase. Palynomorph counts are presented in Table 3.
All of the pollen samples proved to be productive.
The 58E/2 sample likely relates directly to the ac-
Pollen Analysis
tivities that resulted in the coloring of the sedi-
Nine pollen samples from inside and around the ment underneath the vase. Thus, the relatively
vase were analyzed to establish a profile for thehigh percentage of pollen of the Urticales order-
vase's contents. Two samples (58E/1 and 58E/2) which consists of pollen of various families and
came from sediment underlying the vase in anseveral different taxa, including Ficus sp., Trema
area that contained evidence of burning (Davis-sp., and Cecropia sp.- may relate to the collec-
Salazar et al. 2005:13), five samples (58E/3, tion of woody material, with some pollen (and
58E/4, 58E/5, 58E/6, and 58E/7) consist of or- flowers?) still remaining, and subsequent burning
ganic-rich sediment from the interior of the ves-of the woody material at this location.
sel, and two samples (58E/8 and 58E/9) derive All of the Burial 58E-1 samples are domi-
nated by grass (Poaceae) pollen. The grass pollen
from soil overlying the vase near the second bur-
ial (Davis-Salazar et al. 2005:15). likely reflects the dominant vegetation in the im-
The samples were processed by extracting 20 cc mediate area of the burial. However, one of the
sub-samples and adding roughly 37,200 grains oftwo samples from the organic area of Burial 58E-
Lycopodium spores to serve as tracers for calcu-2 also contains pollen of potential paleoethnob-
lating pollen concentrations. Carbonates were re-otanical significance. Sample 58 E/9 has a fairly
high percentage (13/217 grains = 6.0 percent) of
moved by soaking the sample in dilute 10 percent
Connarus- type (zebrawood) pollen; a large genus
hydrochloric acid. The sample was then immersed
of tropical trees and shrubs, including those
in hydrofluoric acid for 20 hours to break down sil-
icates, followed by floating the sample in a zincprized for woodworking. While not diagnostic,
this same sample also contains one grain whose
bromide solution (specific gravity 1 .9) to separate
lighter organic materials, including pollen, from
morphology is at least consistent with pollen of
heavier inorganic materials. Extraneous organicPsychotria emetica (false ipecac), an herb that
matter was removed by rinsing the sample with anhas emetic properties similar to those of ipecac.
Table 3. Palynomorph Counts.
Burial 1111 1 112 2

Context Below Below Vessel Vessel Vessel Vessel Vessel Organic Organic
vessel vessel fill fill fill fill fill deposit deposit
Pinus 4 1 3 2 2 1 1 2 6
Quercus 3 15 1
Moraceae 1 2 2 5 1
Urticales 12 24 21 7 5 8 5 4 7
Liquidambar 7 9 7
cf. Connarus 2 14 12 13
cf. Theobroma cacao 2
Mimosoideae 1 14 1 3
cf. Fabaceae 4 3 11 3 6 8 1 9 8
Annonaceae 3
Apocynaceae 2 2 1 1
Meliaceae 1 2 2 5 3
cf. Bignoniaceae 2 2 2 1 3 8
Solanaceae 2 1 11
Malvaceae 113 3 1
cf. Psychotria emetica 1
Cheno-Am 452 57426
Low-spine Asteraceae 95 556 564
High-spine Asteraceae 49 10 6 10 983 8
Euphorbiaceae 11 2
Bromeliaceae 1
cf. Thismia 1
Poaceae 52 84 54 78 78 55 79 32 69
Poaceae 40mu<x<60mu 1 2
Zea 1 3 3 4 4 7 4
Polypodaceae 3 5 4 8 1 11 1 1 12
Moss Spore 7 3 1 5 5 6 1
Fungal Spore 33 28 47 29 52 54 87 20 20
NID Spore 15 14 11 10 17 4 6 9 3
Degraded 25 18 28 17 36 21 7 12 29
Total Count 181 218 212 200 227 207 223 106 217
Tracer 174 214 230 114 228 103 111 209 73
Total Concentration 1,700 1,700 1,500 3,000 1,600 3,400 3,600 800 4,800
Number of taxa
Finall ter
pollen par
cultivated Mesoamerican maize fields, where
with
maize was found to comprise between .5 to 4.0
tional
percent of the assemblage, with ubiquities of 50
served
to 80 percent (see Stuart 2003:280-281, Table
curely
does
6.5). It therefore seems likely that maize in some n
form
morph was placed directly into the vessel. Given
well
the context, this strongly suggests that the vessel p
More
contained a maize offering, possibly a corn gruel
such as atole. Although the likelihood of maize
otanic
fill
pollen surviving the processing sequence p leading
to maize flour seems low, this would, neverthe-
most
less, explain the relatively high percentages and
pollen
five s
ubiquity of maize pollen and is consistent with the
Table 4. AMS Radiocarbon Dates.
Location Measured l3C/l2C Conventional

Sample
Beta-228166 A Burial 58E-1 1600 ±40 -26.7 1570 ±40 1540-1370 495 ± 85
Beta-228168 F Below vessel 1330 ±40 -25.2 1330 ±40 1300-1180 705 ± 65
Beta-228169 G Below vessel 1480 ±40 -26.5 1460 ± 40 1410-1300 595 ± 55
Beta-228170 H Near vessel 1410 ±40 -25.3 1410 ±40 1370-1280 625 ±45
Beta-228167 J
Note : Measured and conventional ages represent u

(p = 0.95).
phosphate chemistry documenting organic matter We used "BCal" (a Bayesian radiocarbon cal-
in the vase. ibration tool, http://bcal.shef.ac.uk) to model the
calibrated intervals and "CALIB"
Radiocarbon Dating (http://calib.qub.ac.uk/calib) to plot t

for the calibrated dates and the pooled
Using AMS radiocarbon dating, we obtained ab- ity date range (Figure 9). We used a flo
solute dates for the vase deposit from five wood rameter of A.D. 700 ± 50 (with no othe
charcoal specimens recovered from the burial de- prior information) to post-date the org
posit and offering. We assayed five samples to be rials associated with the vase. This par
able to consider the trend of the samples, which the estimate offered by Luke (2002) for
provides a general estimate of the actual date of de- Ulua-style vessels that include a bat mo
position of the vase and can allow for the identifi- as the Palos Blancos vase.
cation and removal of outliers (Buck et al. 1994;
Christen and Buck 1998). We did not date com-
posite samples (i.e., those aggregated from multi-
ple contexts), and only whole pieces larger than .5
cm3 were submitted for dating. For each sample, a
clean trowel was used to avoid cross-contamination
between samples. The samples were stored in ster-
ilized polyethylene bags to avoid additions of new
14C from the packaging, and the bags were sealed
airtight to avoid atmospheric 14C.
The results are shown in Table 4. For the in-
terpretation of radiocarbon dates, we followed
the practices suggested by Dean (1991) and by
Eighmy and LaBelle (1996), which advocate the
use of calibrated dates expressed as intervals that
can then be modeled with Bayesian statistics
(Buck et al. 1996) or simulation approaches
(Crema 2012). Our dates were calibrated using the
software program IntCal04 (http://www.radio-
carbon.org/IntCal04.htm), based on a high-preci-
sion calibration curve that has an estimated error
of less than 20 years (Hughen et al. 2004; Reimer
et al. 2004). The calendar calibrations were com-
puted using the Pretoria Calibration Procedure
(Vogel et al. 1993), which uses splines through Figure 9. A normalized (p = 1.0) pooled probability date
range (showing lo and 2o intervals) for the calibrated
tree-ring data (from oak, sequoia, and fir up to ca. dates (n = 4) associated with the marble vase.
10,000 B.P.) as calibration curves.
struction
The results produced a pooled mean date and reconstruction of identity, place,
of cal
2a A.D. 635 ± 72, or a range of cal A.D.and memory for members of the memory com-
563-707,
munities
for the organic material associated with concerned" (Hendon 2010:119). Al-
the vase.
This pooled mean date supports Luke's though(2002)
we do not know the motives of the Palos
Blancos
chronological assessment of A.D. 650-750 residents for recognizing the person in
based
Burial 58E-1
on her stylistic seriation of Ulua polychrome , it is clear that, by reopening the bur-
pot-
ial contextthe
tery, although the radiocarbon dates suggest to add the marble vase (along with
other vessel.
earlier part of the range for this particular attendant rites as suggested by the patches
of burned
This date places the deposition of the vase soil), their actions effectively indexed
around
the social
the end of the Early Classic or the beginning of relations
the of the community at that time
and simultaneously
Late Classic. The dating results also indicate that historicized the dwelling
the vase was placed as an offering in theacross
burialgenerations
ap- (Joyce 2003; McAnany et al.
1999). origi-
proximately a century after the body was
nally interred (cal 2a A.D. 495 ± 85 or In addition
cal A.D. to new information on the context
410-580). Comparing the pooled mean of andthe
contents
vaseof an Ulua-style marble vase, the ra-
diocarbon
dates against the upper limit of the burial dates associated with the Palos Blancos
date
(A.D. 580) suggests that the two eventsvessel constitute
(burial of the first series of chronometric
the body and interment of the vase) did dates associated with an Ulua-style marble vase.
not occur
Much of our knowledge of the dating of marble
simultaneously ( t - 2.15, df= l,p = .07).
vases from this region is based on relative ceramic
Conclusions chronology, mainly cross-ties with seriated pot-
tery assemblages. Luke (2002; Luke et al. 2003)
The results of this study suggest that the Paloshas created a testable chronology of Ulua-style
Blancos vase was cached as mortuary furnituremarble
up vases based on their distribution and as-
sociation with Ulua polychrome pottery. Accord-
to a century after the interment of the individual
in Burial 58E-1 associated with Structure 9, pos-
ing to Luke (2002), vases with bird, bat, and mon-
key handles (ca. A.D. 650-750) appear to predate
sibly as a gift or offering before the second phase
those with feline and serpent characteristics (ca.
of construction of the building was begun. Stable
A.D. 750-850). Evidence in support of this hy-
isotope data suggest that the individuals interred
in Structure 9 were immigrants or visitors topothesis
the includes stylistic similarities with bird
Palmarejo Valley, perhaps from the region of and
the bat designs found on early Late Classic Lug
Head Ulua maroon polychromes, specifically
Ulua Valley. The vase held a maize offering, pos-
Bombero and Paloma varieties from the western
sibly in the form of a corn-based beverage. With-
Ulúa Valley (Joyce 1993) and from the Copán re-
out comparative material, it is difficult to specu-
gion (Viel 1978). Marble vases with feline char-
late whether these contents are unique or represent
acteristics are found mainly in the central Maya
a typical use of these kinds of vessels. However,
lowlands in late Late Classic contexts, ca. A.D.
corn-based drinks, most often atole in southern
800-850
Mesoamerica, are common in this region today, as (e.g., Kidder 1947:36-37; Pendergast
they were in prehispanic times (Beliaev et1990:236-238;
al. Thompson 1939:167). Our find-
ings support Luke's suggestion for the bat-han-
2010; Green 2010). Several examples of ceramic
vessels containing maize and cacao have been dled vases, but hint at the possibility that the
manufacture of this group of design styles may
unearthed recently in mortuary contexts at Copán
in western Honduras (McNeil 2010; McNeil ethaveal. been initiated slightly earlier than the A.D.
2006). 650-750 range that she identifies.
Regardless of the contents of the vase, we fol- Our AMS results contribute to a much-needed
low Hendon (2010:110-121) in interpreting the calibrated radiocarbon chronology for Ulua mar-
vase's inclusion in the mortuary program as a ble vases. In addition, seriation-based temporal
memorial act designed to transform the dead into phases of specific ceramic types commonly as-
an ancestor (see also Gillespie 2001; McAnany sociated with Ulua-style marble vases, such as
1995). "These practices contribute to the con- certain varieties of Ulua polychromes, may now
be evaluated with absoluteThose

dateof Bone ranges.
Collagen and Carbonate.
ByIn using
Prehistoric Hu-
man Bone: Archaeology at the Molecular Level , edited by
this comparative method,Joseph
for example, assump-
B. Lambert and Gisela Grupe, pp. 1-38. Springer-
tions based on the uniformity
Verlag, Berlin.of Naco and Ulúa
Beliaev, Dmitri, Albert
ceramic chronologies across Davletshin, and Alexandre
multiple regions Tokovinine
20 10 Sweet Cacao and Sour Atole: Mixed Drinks on Clas-
(e.g., Joyce 1993; Urban 1993) may now be ex-
sic Maya Ceramic Vases. In Pre-Columbian Foodways: In-
plored with calendar dates. We hope
terdisciplinary Approaches tothat an
Food, Culture, and ef-
Markets
in Ancient Mesoamerica , edited
fective Ulúa marble vase radiocarbon by John E. Staller and
chronology
Michael D. Carrasco, pp. 257-272. Springer- Verlag, New
from northwest Honduras York.will help bridge the
gap that currently exists for
Bentley the
Robert A. vases, which are
dated only by ceramic cross-ties and
2006 Strontium Isotopes from theby
Earth toassocia-
the Archaeological
Skeleton: A Review. Journal of Archaeological Method and
tion with settlement sites that are dated by radio-
Theory 13:135-187.
carbon techniques. By filling this
Bressani, Ricardo, Ramirogap,
Paz y Paz,it will
and Nevin be
S. Scrimshaw
possible for the first time1958to Chemical
compareChanges in Corn during Preparation
marble vasesof Tor-
tillas. Agricultural and Food Chemistry 6:770-77 4.
from multiple contexts Bressani,
directly and to help de-
Ricardo, and Nevin S. Scrimshaw
termine the meaning of their stylistic
1 95 8 Effects differences.
of Lime Treatment on in Vitro Availability of
Essential Amino Acids and Solubility of Protein Fractions
Acknowledgments. This research in was conducted
Corn. Agricultural with
and Food the
Chemistry per-
6:774-778.
mission of the Instituto Hondureno
Buck, Caitlinde Antropología
E., William e Histo-
G. Cavanagh, and Cliff D. Litton
ria. We appreciate the support and advice
1996 The of Darío
Bayesian Approach A. Euraque,
to Interpreting Archaeolog-
Margarita Durón Meza de Galvez, ical Data.
Carmen Wiley, Chichester,
Julia United Kingdom.
Fajardo, Eva
Buck, Caitlin
Martínez, Aldo Zelaya, and the late Juan E., Cliff D. Litton,Durón
Alberto and E. Marian
of Scott
that
1994 Making the
institution. The research was funded by Mostthe
of Radiocarbon
National Dating: Geo-
Some Sta-
tistical Considerations. Antiquity 68:252-263.
graphic Society, the Foundation for the Advancement of
Budd, Paul, Janet Montgomery, Barbara Barreiro, and Richard
Mesoamerican Studies, and variousG. Thomas
granting agencies at the
University of South Florida, including the Institute for the
2000 Differential Diagenesis of Strontium in Archaeolog-
Study of Latin America and the ical
Caribbean
Human Dental and Tissues.the Humani-
Applied Geochemistry
ties Institute. Bioarchaeological 15:687-694.
analysis was undertaken by
Anna C. Novotný (Arizona State University).
Buikstra, Jane E., T. DouglasOxygenPrice, James H. isotope
Burton, and Lori
analysis was performed by David E.Wright Dettman (University of
2004 Tombs from the Copán Acropolis:
Arizona). Strontium isotope characterization wasA Life-history
performed Ap-
proach. In Understanding
by Paul Fullagar (University of North Early Classic Copán , edited Hill).
Carolina-Chapel by
Ellen E. Bell, Marcello A. Canuto, and Robert J. Sharer,
Sample preparation for analysis of the dental enamel was
pp. 191-212. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Ar-
performed by James H. Burton (University of Wisconsin-
chaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia.
Madison). Phosphate analysis of sediments was completed by
Buikstra Jane E., and Douglas H. Ubelaker
Paige Phillips and E. Christian1994 Wells
Standards for(University
Data Collection from Humanof South
Skeletal
Florida). Pollen samples were processed
Remains. Arkansasat Northern
Archeological Arizona
Survey Research Series
University, and the analysis was performed by Glenn
No. 44. Arkansas Archeological S.ville.
Survey, Fayette L. Stu-
Christen,
art (at the time, Archaeological J. Andrés, and Caitlin Services).
Consulting E. Buck Radio-
1 998Beta
carbon dating was performed by Sample Selection in Radiocarbon Dating
Analytic. We. Applied
are Sta-
grate-
tistics 47:543-557.
ful to Christina Luke, James Burton, Edward Schortman,
Crema, Enrico R.
Robert Tykot, and Patricia Urban for their advice. The thought-
2012 Modelling Temporal Uncertainty in Archaeological
ful comments and suggestions of the editors and three anony-
Analysis. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory
mous reviewers significantly enhanced
19:440-461. the final manuscript.
Darley, Zaida E.
Data Availability Statement: The201data ononwhich
1 The Dirt Prehispanicthis research
Water Management at Pal-
is based is available by request marejo,
to Dr. E. Christian
Honduras. Wells
Unpublished Master's thesis, at
Depart-
ecwells@usf.edu. ment of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tam-
pa.
Davis-Salazar, Karla L., José E. Moreno-Cortés, and E. Chris-
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ologic region of study Informe
are necessary to accurately interpret hu-
preliminar, quinta temporada.
man Report submitted
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A baseline is in progress for northwest
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breast milk is enriched in 180 compared to drinking water.
Wells, E. Christian, José E. Moreno-Cortés, and Karla L. Davis-
Salazar Weaning must be taken into account when assessing mobility
2006 Proyecto Arqueológico Comunidad Palmarejo: Informefrom teeth formed during breastfeeding, such as first molars,
preliminar, tercera temporada. Report submitted to theas they may not match the local 180 values (Hillson 2008;
Instituto Hondureno de Antropología e Historia, Tegucigalpa,
Knudson 2009; Wright and Schwartz 1998).
Honduras. Copies available from E. Christian Wells, Uni-
5. For the total sample, mean enamel 87Sr/86Sr = .7082974
versity of South Florida.
± .000234 (n = 5, Ict). The mean for Palmarejo Valley burials
Wells, E. Christian, Richard E. Terry, Perry J. Hardin, J. Jacob
is .708415 ± .000220 (n = 3, Ict) and .7081205 ± .000135 for
Parnell, Stephen D. Houston, and Mark W. Jackson
the burials interred with the marble vase at Palos Blancos. For
2000 Chemical Analyses of Ancient Anthrosols in Residential
Areas at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Journal of Archaeo-the total sample, mean enamel 8180 = -3.93%o ± .42 (n = 5,
logical Science 27:449-462. 1er). The mean for Palmarejo Valley burials is -3.66%o ± .27 (n
White, Christine, and Henry P. Schwarcz = 3, Ict) and -4.32%o ± .15 (n = 2, 1er) for the Palos Blancos
1989 Ancient Maya Diet as Inferred from Isotopie and Chem-burials.
ical Analyses of Human Bone. Journal of Archaeological 6. The 813C data for the present study were obtained from
Science 16:451-474.
carbonate in dental enamel apatite and reflects whole diet plus
White, Tim D., and Pieter A. Folkens
9.4%o, while collagen reflects carbon from consumed protein
2006 The Human Bone Manual. Elsevier Academic Press,
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Burlington, Massachusetts.
Wright, Lori E. 7. Mean 813C isotope data for the total sample is -4.36%o
± .69A(n = 5, Ict). The mean for the burials from Palos Blan-
2006 Diet, Health, and Status among the Pasión Maya:
cos is -4.15%c ± .58 (n = 2, 1er). This is slightly lower than the
Reappraisal of the Collapse. Vanderbilt University Press,
Nashville. mean for the burials from the greater Palmarejo Valley, -4.49%o
2013 Examining Childhood Diets at Kaminaljuyú, Guatemala, ±.85 (n = 3, Ict).
through Stable Isotopie Analysis of Sequential Enamel Mi- 8. Samples were placed in test tubes and mixed on an or-
crosamples . Archaeometry 55:113-133.
bital benchtop shaker at 200 rpm for five minutes. The sedi-
Wright, Lori E., and Francisco Chew
ment grains were then filtered out of solution using quantita-
1998 Porotic Hyperostosis and Paleoepidemiology: A
Forensic Perspective on Anemia among the Ancienttive-grade ashless (.007 percent) filter paper and an
Maya. American Anthropologist 100:924-939. acetone-rinsed glass funnel. The resulting solution was col-
Wright, Lori E., and Henry P. Schwarcz lected in a sterilized glass scintillation vial. The contents of a
1998 Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes in Human ToothPhos Ver 3 powder pillow (ascorbic acid, potassium pyrosul-
Enamel: Identifying Breastfeeding and Weaning in Pre-
fate, and sodium molybdate; available from Hach, Inc.) were
history. American Journal of Physical Anthropology
added to the solution and agitated until it dissolved (approxi-
106:1-18.
mately one minute), and then allowed to stand for two minutes.
Young-Sánchez, Margaret
Through a reduction reaction with the acid, the pillow changes
1992 The Gruener Collection of Pre-Columbian Art. The Bul-
to blue molybdenum compounds in the presence of phosphate.
letin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 79:234-275.
9. Pollen extracts were mounted in glycerol and stained with
saffranin to aid in identification. A Nikon Optiphot microscope
Notes was used to view the slides at 400x magnification to obtain 200
grain counts. Pollen grain identification was facilitated through
comparison to reference collections and published pollen guides
1 . An earlier version of a portion of this article was prepared
by Wells (2007). (e.g., Kapp et al. 2000; Roubik and Moreno Patino 1991). Iden-
2. Nixtamalization- the process of soaking maize in an al-
tification was to the lowest taxonomie level possible. Pollen per-
centages were calculated from the 200 grain count; concentra-
kali solution such as water treated with slaked lime- improves
tions were calculated by multiplying the ratio of the number of
the nutritional value of maize by eliminating phytates; lower-
ing the leucine/isoleucine ratio; enhancing the bioavailability
pollen grains counted to tracers counted by tracer concentration
divided by sample volume.
of niacin, lysine, and tryptophan; and increasing calcium con-
tent (Bressani et al. 1958; Bressani and Scrimshaw 1958; Katz
et al. 1974; Wright 2006:109-111).
3. Strontium isotope signatures (87Sr/86Sr) vary regionally
based on the composition and age of bedrock (Bentley 2006;Submitted September 10, 2012; Revised September 16, 2013;
Faure and Powell 1972). Baseline strontium data from the ge-Accepted January 16, 2014.

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ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT AND CONTENTS OF AN ULUA-STYLE MARBLE VASE FROM

THE PALMAREJO VALLEY, HONDURAS

E. Christian Wells, Karla L. Davis-Salazar, José E. Moreno-Cortés,

don 1991; LeCount 2001; Luke 2010; McAnany

ligious commitments required great quantities of economically underdeveloped, politically ho-

Latin American Antiquity 25(1), 2014, pp. 82-100

(Joyce 1993; Schortman and Urban 1996;esía andUrban

Figure 1. Northwest Honduras, showing the Palmarejo Valle

economy of outlying settlements in2004, 2006, 2008). Most of these settlements re

Figure 3. Plan view of Palos Blancos, showing the location of Struc

Palos Blancos is one of the larger settlements

Figure 5. Plan view of Burial 58E-2 at Palos Blan

Table 1 . Stable Isotope Data.

PACP-1 Palmarejo Midden burial -3.71 .708424 -5.13

PACP-5 Palos Blancos Burial 58E-2

Note: All samp

Stable Isotope Analysis

individuals in the study.7 However, there is a fair

-4.0000- etary consumption among these individuals em-

Figure 8. Scatterplot of strontium and oxygen isotope Phosphate Chemistry

Table 2. Phosphate Concentrations.

Sample Context pH Total P (mg/kg) P04 (mg/kg) P205 (mg/kg)

58E-08 Organic material, Burial #2 7.84 460.42 1409.58 1055.42

(Mann- Whitney U = 14.00, z = 2.05, p = .04).

Table 3. Palynomorph Counts.

Burial 1111 1 112 2

Table 4. AMS Radiocarbon Dates.

Location Measured l3C/l2C Conventional

Note : Measured and conventional ages represent u

Radiocarbon Dating (http://calib.qub.ac.uk/calib) to plot t

be evaluated with absoluteThose

2008 Proyecto Arqueológico Comunidad Palmarejo:

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