Tour of K'axob (Page 5)

The artifacts retrieved from carefully documented contexts provide valuable insights regarding life in an ancient Maya village. For instance, residents of K'axob were vitally concerned with the material bases of life as well as ritual practice and reproduction of the domestic unit. We uncovered ample evidence of small-scale production activities, such as paper-making, shell-bead fabrication, and pottery artisanship. Although pottery production displayed a strong streak of conservatism, long-term changes in vessel form and decoration (apparent in vessel photos) facilitated the construction of a relative chronology. Chipped stone tools provided further evidence of daily practice. We found that the broken distal portions of large, oval bifaces had been ground and polished from repeated use in percussion-free contexts, such as the fertile, stone-free soils of the uplands and wetlands of K'axob. Agricultural production appears to have been a central and consuming activity organized at the level of the domicile.

Barkbeater showing medial groove (GT #068, 070)

Worked shells and lithic drill tools from an Early Chaakkax midden deposit.

Joventud Red, unspecified variety.

Sierra Red, Sierra variety.

Society Hall Red, Society Hall variety bowl, cross painted on exterior base.

Chicago Orange, Chucun variety jar.

Sierra Red, Unspecified variety spouted vessel with duck effigy, in situ.

Sierra Red, Gadrooned variety bowl.

Laguna Verde Incised, Laguna Verde variety flared cylindrical form from a cache.

Actuncan Orange Polychrome, Actuncan variety flanged bowl with ring base and kill hole.

Actuncan Orange Polychrome, Actuncan variety with tetrapodal feet shaped and painted as peccary heads, in situ. 

Distal fragment of oval biface. Note polish. LT# 1014.