Announcing the Final Examination of Mr. Ryan Enger for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology.
Date: November 6, 2019
Time: 2:00 pm
Room: HPH 409A
Thesis title: “Analyzing Pre-Inhumation Breakage Ceramics at Lamanai, Belize: A Conjunctive Approach”
During the Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic periods (roughly the 9th-10th centuries A.D.), the ancient Maya at Lamanai, Belize began to practice pre-inhumation breakage of mortuary ceramics. Previously, the custom had been to bury whole vessels with the deceased. This conspicuous shift in behavior suggests important changes in beliefs regarding the role of ceramics in death and interment at a pivotal moment in ancient Maya culture history. Despite this significant change, there has heretofore been no research conducted specifically on these vessels. In fact, there has been no clearly delineated set of characteristics for what qualifies as a pre-inhumation breakage vessel (PBV). This study offers a working definition for PBVs and converts the original Lamanai grave descriptions of those that contain PBVs to a classification system for ease of future comparative analyses. Finally, the sex and age of individuals buried with PBVs are considered. The result is a conjunctive analysis that provides data not only on PBV forms and quantities, grave types, and the sex and age of those interred with PBVs, but also several statistically significant correlations among these variables.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
M.Ed., 2017, University of Central Florida
M.A., 2010, Florida International University
B.A., 2006, Flagler College
Committee in Charge:
Dr. Michael Callaghan, Chair
Dr. Brigitte Kovacevich
Dr. Lana Williams
Approved for distribution by Dr. Michael Callaghan, Committee Chair, on October 22, 2019.
The public is welcome to attend.
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