Graduation Term

2015

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology: Archaeology

Committee Chair

Kathryn E. Sampeck

Abstract

This thesis examines ceramics from the church of San Pedro y San Pablo, Caluco, El Salvador, to investigate the pressures of Spanish evangelization during the Colonial Period. It compares the church's ceramic assemblage to two privately-owned houses, also within Caluco. Examining choices in ceramic styles for serving food and drink is one way to examine the colonial policies of reducción, which were to instill a regular, commonplace Christian order in everyday life. The materials in question were a large number of Spanish majolicas, as well as 300 locally-made vessels, and form, decoration, and ware was noted for each. The relative importance of majolica versus majolica attributes on indigenous-made pottery shows that practices in the shadow of the church were distinct from those farther away. Residents of Caluco faced harsh conditions because of greed and abuse related to cacao production. Subverting canonical material practices was a way to band together.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2015.Hodges.A

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