Comparative Archaeology Database | Center for Comparative Archaeology | University of Pittsburgh
Mayapan Community Dataset
The data files below provide shell tools counts and descriptions by species, size, and modifications from surface collections and excavation.
[Comma delimited UTF-8 format]
[Excel format]
Each line in the CSV file represents one shell piece within the collection unit. There are 2255 lines, each with 23 variables separated by commas. The variables are listed in the following order:
| 1 | Sample type, where INAH = the INAH-Mayapan project conducted by Carlos Peraza in the monumental center. |
| 2 | Structure |
| 3 | Surface collection number |
| 4 | Collection number |
| 5 | Milpa |
| 6 | Pozo (test pit) |
| 7 | Lot |
| 8 | Level |
| 9 | Capa |
| 10 | Cuadro (grid square) |
| 11 | Cala |
| 12 | Taxa |
| 13 | Count |
| 14 | Portion |
| 15 | Size |
| 16 | Percussion breakage |
| 17 | Cut |
| 18 | Other: If there was the presence of perforation. | 19 | Type |
| 20 | Description |
| 21 | Length |
| 22 | Thickness |
| 23 | Width |
The first line of the CSV file, for example, looks like this:
Horizontal excavation,H-11,,,,,5056,1,I,6-H,,Abalone,1,,see columns to the right,,,,Debitage,"Shell fragment, 4.5 cm long x 2.5 cm wide",,,
This means that the shell tool was recovered through horizontal excavation from structure H-11, lot 5056, level 1, capa I, and cuadro 6-H. The shell's taxa was identified as Abalone. One shell of this taxa was recovered from this excavation unit. Its type is 'debitage' and is described as "Shell fragment, 4.5 cm long x 2.5 cm wide."