Miniature in Everything but Meaning: A Contextual Analysis of Miniature Vessels at Homol'ovi I

Abstract

The most common explanations for the appearance of miniatures in the archaeological record are drawn from practice theory. Two alternatives stem from learning theories, while a third is based in ritual practice and performance. First, miniatures may represent early attempts at craft production by children or novice adults. Second, they could serve as children's toys used for enculturation purposes. Third, miniatures may be produced for use in rituals or as offerings. These explanations are not mutually exclusive; all may be part of the life history of a single artifact. Previous archaeological and ethnographic work on miniature ceramic vessels in the Southwest has variously supported all three prominent explanations. In this article, we examine the miniature vessel assemblage from Homol'ovi I, a prehispanic pueblo in northern Arizona, through a synthetic analysis of craft mastery, use, and deposition. While various life history trajectories are indicated, the miniature vessels at this ancestral Hopi village appear in similar depositional contexts. Specifically, these objects serve as important components in the preparation or closure practices of ritual spaces throughout the pueblo.

Miniatures as Ritual Objects: Exploring the Role of Small-Sized Vessels among the Complex Late Holocene Hunter-Gatherers from the Paraná River Lowlands in South America

“…Around 43 per cent of the decorated pieces have asymmetries and errors in their decorations, while 62.5 per cent of the total sample have cracks and irregularities in the shapes of their bodies, lips or surfaces (Tables 3 & 5). These aspects, which are also common among miniatures from diverse archaeological contexts, have led them to be evaluated as potential children's toys (Carey 2006; Fladd & Barker 2019; Prous & Jácome 2007, among others), including the first referents of archaeology in the Paraná River Lowlands (González 1947; Serrano 1946). Ethnographic information indicates that children tend to imitate the activities of adults, making small versions of useful artifacts.…”

“…The data in relation to the vessels’ firing were taken from pieces that presented some previous fractures, where it was possible to observe the colour of the paste. Errors and irregularities in the manufacture and decoration of the pieces were identified, aspects that have been used to evaluate the skill of the potter and children's agency (Fladd & Barker 2019; Kamp 2001; Langdon 2013; Menon & Varma 2011; Park 2010, among others). The presence and localization of traces of use were recorded macroscopically, such as remnants of pigments, soot and organic residue that had adhered and absorbed ( sensu Reber & Hart 2008).…”

“…The miniature bells, according to their bigger referents, are somewhat thicker, with an average of 0.76 cm ( Table 2). The wall thicknesses are mostly homogeneous throughout, with no significant differences Miniatures as Ritual Objects in different parts of the pieces, which for some authors is an indicator of children's agency (Fladd & Barker 2019;Langdon 2013). The variability registered in the wall thickness of piece 24 (Table 2) is in response to a characteristic of the particular design of this piece, but it does not look as though it was due to the inexperience of the potter.…”

“…Miniatures constitute a scaled-down version of real artefacts (López 2012), which, because of their small dimensions, apparently cannot be used for the same purposes as the objects of which they are copies. The miniaturization of objects exists on a global scale, so that the archaeological record of miniatures in different raw materials covers a large spatial, temporal and cultural spectrum (Aguirre 2004; Carey 2006; Cervantes et al 2011; Fladd & Barker 2019; Guerra Clará 2014; Hermes 2003; Kiernan 2015; López Bertrán & Vives Ferrándiz 2015; Park 1998; Park & Mousseau 2003; Prous & Jácome 2007; Uribe et al 2007; Valdez et al 2006, among others). Small objects are frequent in ritual contexts, such as sanctuaries or burials, where they served as votive and mortuary offerings (Gabaldón Martínez 2004).…”

Miniature in Everything but Meaning: A Contextual Analysis of Miniature Vessels at Homol'ovi I – Erratum

“…In the original publication of this article (Fladd and Barker 2018), Figure 2 was published without obtaining permission, due to an oversight. The article has since been corrected and Figure 2 replaced with a new version.…”