Fashioning Meaning through Ceramic Candeleros in the Terminal Classic Naco Valley, Northwestern Honduras

Candeleros are simply made ceramic artifacts that consist of one or more cylindrical chambers that are usually circularly arranged and often show signs of burning. These objects are found widely across Mesoamerica though they are rare in most locales. The 100 km2 Naco Valley in northwestern Honduras diverges from this pattern in that: candeleros are frequently found in Terminal Classic (800-1000 CE) assemblages here; they vary in size from items containing a single chamber to others with upwards of 20 receptacles; and their range of decorative embellishments is considerable, from incised linear designs to examples shaped as various animals. In this poster we summarize research that describes how these items were manufactured, decorated, and what those adornments might have signified to those who used the items. The implications of our findings for understanding the interplay of people and objects within this ancient society are also considered.

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