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Ceramic Production And Consumption In The Sierra De Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, Philip J. Arnold Iii

Research Papers

Ceramics constitute an overwhelming majority of the pre-Columbian archaeological record. So large is this database, in fact, that more than 25 years ago Gordon Willey expressed some exasperation concerning what to do with " .. .literally tons of potsherds" (1961:230). While at times annoying, the sheer size of this database commands attention. Contemporary studies of the production, consumption, and disposal of pottery can inform us about the many ways in which ceramics reflect cultural behavior. These data, in turn, can provide insight into the social, economic, and political systems of ancient Mesoamerica.