The Economy of Specialized Ceramic Craft Production in the Casas Grandes Region

Specialized ceramic production existed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, during the Medio period (AD 1200 to 1450), but it was limited to economically valuable goods like Ramos and Babicora Polychromes. Geometric morphometrics analysis revealed that while some Ramos Polychrome vessels were likely made by attached specialists linked to elites at Paquime, the religious center, others were produced independently. This suggests a nuanced organization of production in mid-level hierarchically organized societies, challenging the idea that all specialized goods were controlled by elites. The study advances understanding of artifact standardization and its relationship to social structure, while also demonstrating the utility of geometric morphometrics in archaeological research.

Topi, J. R., VanPool, C. S., Waller, K. D., & VanPool, T. L. (2017). THE ECONOMY OF SPECIALIZED CERAMIC CRAFT PRODUCTION IN THE CASAS GRANDES REGION. Latin American Antiquity, 29(1), 122–142. https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2017.62