Prehispanic storage system of a mayan town: an analysis of ceramic material from Joya de Cerén, El Salvador

Abstract

Joya de Cerén, an archaeological site in the municipality of San Juan Opico, Department of La Libertad, was accidentally discovered in 1976 and declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1993. This site contains remains of the daily life and agricultural, social and religious activities of a small Mayan community that was buried after a volcanic eruption around 650 A.D. Little has been discussed so far about the organizational aspects of the site such as the prehispanic storage and supply system; consequently, this research aims to provide a closer look at the analysis and interpretation of ceramic materials related to agricultural production methods thus giving way to new paradigms over human activities, particularly those in relation to the indigenous peoples of El Salvador.

Entorno, octubre 2017, número 64: 28-40