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Approaching Social Practice through Access Analysis at Las Canoas, Honduras

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Miranda K. Stockett
Miranda K. Stockett*
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, PA 19104 (mirandas@sas.upenn.edu)
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Abstract

Identifying patterns in the organization of spaces, and in the ways past peoples may have moved through those spaces, can provide insights into daily practice, group interaction, and social control in community life. To identify such patterns, a modified version of access analysis is applied to the densely settled Late Classic (A.D. 650–960) site of Las Canoas, northwest Honduras. The usefulness of this spatial diagramming technique to illuminate patterns of potential significance to the past architects and occupants of this site will be critically assessed. In particular, access analysis is applied to consider formal and informal control of movement and social interaction within two discrete household groups. Conclusions regarding spatial use and social practice at Las Canoas are drawn from combined consideration of access diagrams, architectural form, activity distribution, and connections with the surrounding landscape.

La identificación de patrones en la organización del espacio, y la manera de moverse dentro del mismo puede proveer una comprensión de la interacción y la jerarquía social así como de la vida de una comunidad. Se utiliza una versión modificada de análisis de acceso (access analysis) para identificar dichos patrones en el sitio arqueológico Las Canoas, ocupado durante el periodo clásico (A.D. 650–960) en el noroeste de Honduras. La utilidad de esta técnica de análisis espacial para identificar patrones significativos para los arquitectos y residentes antiguos del sitio será evaluada críticamente. En particular, el análisis de acceso es aplicado a la investigación de control de movimiento y la interacción social en dos grupos residenciales distintos. Las conclusiones con respecto a la organización espacial y acciones sociales en Las Canoas están basadas en la utilización combinada de diagramas de acceso, formas arquitectónicas, distribución de actividades y sus conexiones con el paisaje circundante.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 385 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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