Ceramic composition diversity at Mayapan, the last Maya capital

This study focuses on the variability of pottery fabrics from Mayapán, the Maya capital during the last pre-Hispanic period (Late Postclassic, A.D. 1200-1519). Traditionally, the materials selected by Late Postclassic potters have been considered a reflection of the carelessness of a decadent society using only what the geology of the region provided. For instance, unlike the variety of inclusions found in the earlier Terminal Classic pottery, Mayapán pottery presents a limited array of raw materials: limestone, the most common rock in the region, is almost the sole inclusion found in its pottery. However, the main mineral in limestone, calcite, is found in nature in a variety of textures. While some fabric analyses have been performed for the pottery of the earlier centres of Chichén Itzá and the Puuc area, analyses targeting the fabrics of Late Postclassic pottery are almost nonexistent. This study aimed to investigate the variability and seek patterns in the fabrics of pottery from Mayapán by performing low-magnification, petrographic, and X-ray diffraction analyses. This study also aimed to clarify associations between fabrics and the local typology. The results revealed multiple fabrics based on the many textural varieties of carbonate rocks. While trends showing the association between types of inclusions and ceramic types were uncovered, no clear-cut correlations between fabrics and typology were observed due to the small sample number. This study also showed that petrographic analysis is an invaluable tool to characterise carbonates in ceramics due to its ability to discern textural variations.