THE MATERIAL RESIDUES OF COMMUNAL FEASTING: MIDDENS

Investigations also encountered an extensive midden to the northwest of the plaza, where over 13,000 artifacts were recovered. Given its close proximity to the plaza, and its relatively long distance from habitation areas at the site, it is possible that this midden contains the debris associated with events in the plaza, and perhaps includes materials from activities carried out nearby. Eight 2 sq. m test units were placed in the environs of the midden, resulting in a total of 64 cubic m of soil excavated. Three stratigraphic layers containing midden materials were detected, each approximately .25 m thick. Three calibrated radiocarbon dates from the midden place the formation of the layers (from deepest to shallowest) at AD 375 ± 225, AD 405 ± 165, and AD 760 ± 130 (2 sigma reported; 95% probability). It is important to note that the two uppermost layers are separated by a .1 m-thick layer of fine sediment. Together with the radiocarbon dates, these data suggest that the midden formed in two stages over an approximately 400-year period. Excavation of the lowest strata yielded primarily lithic debris (i.e., obsidian, perlite, chert), while the upper two layers contained abundant ceramic sherds (including two whole vessels) and a variety of other materials including ceramic candeleros and figurines, stone bark beaters, ground stone mortars and pestles, and ground stone manos and metates.

While the grinding implements, ceramic dishes, and comals suggest food production and consumption, most of the materials recovered indicate other activities, particularly craft manufacture (bark beaters, mortars, and pestles) and rituals (censers, candeleros, figurines). If this midden does represent at least some of the materials employed in plaza events, then it is clear that those practices not only included feasting, but also a variety of other activities, such as crafting and ritual. One explanation to account for the significance of these overlapping patterns is that, in order to compete successfully for control over foreign trade, El Coyote’s rulers relied, at least in part, on the labor of craft specialists to enhance their productive capacity. One practice by which this fund of power could have been generated was the centralization and control of labor during community-wide plaza activities in which work-party feasts were an inducement for individuals to participate in craft manufacture that yielded products for chiefly exchanges.