Announcing the Final Examination of Ms. Danielle Megan Joan Waite for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology.
Date: February 20, 2020
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Room: HPH 409M
Thesis title: “Household Economies and Socioeconomic Integration: An Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from Coba, Quintana Roo And Yaxuna, Yucatan, Mexico.”
Using Handheld XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence), this study investigates how household economies at two Maya archaeological sites, Coba and Yaxuna, differed during a period of expansion and integration from the Early to Late Classic periods. Previous research suggests Yaxuna was under the direction of Coba, however, due to the lack of household archaeology at both sites, how the bridging of these two centers impacted households and their domestic economies remains unknown. A compositional analysis of 1,186 obsidian artifacts from household groups suggests that during the Early to Late Classic transition (A.D. 500-750/800), Coba and Yaxuna exploited obsidian sources consistent with the overarching trend of obsidian distribution in the Classic period Maya lowlands. Compared to Coba, a greater variety of obsidian sources are present at Yaxuna. This divergence between the Coba and Yaxuna obsidian material substantiates previous arguments concerning Yaxuna’s role in widespread trade networks during the Classic period. Considering the lack of household archaeology at both Coba and Yaxuna, this research greatly informs future interpretations of the two centers during a period of expansion and socioeconomic integration.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
B.A., 2017, University of Central Florida
Committee in Charge:
Dr. Brigitte Kovacevich, Chair
Dr. Michael Callaghan, Co-Chair
Dr. Sarah Barber
Dr. Travis Stanton
Approved for distribution by Brigitte Kovacevich, Committee Chair, on February 6, 2020.
The public is welcome to attend.
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