Evaluating the Distributional Approach to Inferring Marketplace Exchange: A Test Case from the Mexican Gulf Lowlands

Abstract

Over a decade ago Kenneth Hirth (1998, 2000) developed a “distributional approach” for archaeologically inferring the existence of marketplace exchange based on analyses of domestic artifact collections. Domestic collections, he reasoned, will be relatively homogeneous in areas where most or all households rely on marketplace exchange to acquire domestic provisions. The present study evaluates Hirth’s distributional approach using a statistical measure of diversity (heterogeneity) to quantify variability among domestic collection units over a large area. The data for this study come from the Middle Postclassic lower Blanco region of Veracruz (A.D. 1200–A.D. 1350), an unknown context of marketplace exchange. A comparison of diversity scores calculated on surface sherd collections from the lower Blanco region with scores from Late Postclassic Teotihuacan (A.D. 1350–A.D. 1520)—a known context of marketplace exchange—suggests the existence of a marketplace exchange system in the lower Blanco region, likely centered at the town of El Sauce. In addition, changes in intercollection diversity (sherds) and obsidian concentrations with increasing distance from the center suggest El Sauce’s market service area encompassed a radius of approximately six to nine kilometers.

Ancient Maya Commerce : Multidisciplinary Research at Chunchucmil

“…Though this chapter gives strong support for the existence of an ancient marketplace at Chunchucmil, we agree with many researchers (garraty 2009;garraty and Stark 2010;Hirth and Pillsbury 2013b;Shaw and King 2015;Wilk 1998) that we need to go beyond simply identifying the presence or absence of marketplaces. In this chapter we also attempt to answer questions about the scale of the marketplace at Chunchucmil, the size of its service area, how often it occurred, and the degree to which it was regulated.…”

The Elusive Maya Marketplace: An Archaeological Consideration of the Evidence

“…Several scholars have critiqued the assumptions embedded in Hirth's model (e.g., Garraty 2009;Smith 1999;Wilk 1998), particularly in terms of scale and in the level of regional integration of a market system. Smith (1999) presents similar distributional evidence for markets at Aztec sites but also points out that distributional patterns may vary based on the artifact types used.…”

“…Smith (1999, p. 529) does argue that the presence of exotic or high-value goods in commoner households could, with further testing, be an indicator of access to these goods in a marketplace. Garraty (2009) has recently refined the distributional approach by using statistics to quantify artifact diversity and to compare regions with known marketplace sites and those where such sites are unknown. The advantage of using statistical data is that other researchers may be in a better position to evaluate Garraty's statements; on the other hand, direct statistical comparisons also may obscure significant variations that exist between samples.…”

Ritual Use of Obsidian from Maya Caves in Belize: A Functional and Symbolic Analysis

“…Thus far, archaeological political economy has focused heavily on exchange and craft production while placing less emphasis on contexts of consumption. As of late, formalist-inspired studies of commercialization, markets, and marketing have emerged as major research foci in Mesoamerica (e.g., Dahlin et al 2007;Feinman and garraty 2010;garraty 2009;garraty and Stark 2010;Hirth 1998;Smith 2004;Smith and Berdan 2003). Most obsidian studies carried out since the mid-1990s or so fit comfortably within the confines of archaeological political economy.…”