Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Brown, Clifford T.

Abstract

Debitage from the reduction of Spondylus valves into pieces useful for craft production was recovered at the site of Rio Chico, Manabi Province, Ecuador, from multiple occupations that represent different cultural periods of Coastal Ecuador. The material is analyzed and interpreted from a production context and defines basic production characteristics for each cultural period represented. Changes in these characteristics seen within the sequence are highlighted and then compared against changes found in the regional exchange system defined by Martin (2000). The results indicate that the greatest level of variability and the least processing intensity occurred within the youngest occupation (later Mantefio) and the greatest amount of change through time occurred between the earlier and later Mantefio period. It also suggests that the local production processes did not change in response to changes in the regional exchange system. Instead, responses to changes in the regional trade context could have involved geographic expansion of the Spondylus habitat they exploited by initiating, or expanding an already existing, trade route with Mesoamerica.

Extent

213 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FA00000964

Format

pdf

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