Abstract
- Recent investigations at Lamanai, Belize have resulted in new insights into the nature of a technology that appeared very late in the Maya area – metallurgy. More copper artifacts have been recovered at Lamanai than at any other site in the Southern Lowlands and there is compelling evidence that copper production was taking place at the site beginning in Late Postclassic times. Chemical compositional analyses indicate that during the Early Postclassic Period finished copper status or ritual objects, including finger rings, bells and decorative clothing ornaments were being imported into Lamanai from West Mexico. But it appears by Late Postclassic times copper craft specialists were producing both status and utilitarian objects, including axes, fish hooks and sewing needles. Artifact chemistries suggest that metalsmiths were recycling older copper artifacts and recasting them into new forms. The contexts in which imported and locally manufactured copper objects have been recovered reveal much about the meanings metal objects appear to have had for the Maya. New data on both the contexts in which copper artifacts have been found and the technology used in their production are presented here along with interpretations of how metal objects may have been regarded and used by the Maya of Lamanai.