In many regards, the chaîne opératoire has greatly contributed to the study of ceramics. Since its incorporation within the analysis of archaeological artefacts, chaîne opératoire analysis has... Show moreIn many regards, the chaîne opératoire has greatly contributed to the study of ceramics. Since its incorporation within the analysis of archaeological artefacts, chaîne opératoire analysis has developed into a method which provides an understanding of the artisan community within a settlement. Furthermore, it provides solid material evidence of past artisanship, both through the reconstruction of manufacturing processes and technological choices. This paper addresses how chaîne opératoire studies can contribute to the reconstruction of the social organisation of craft, based on two case studies from the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras. This research explores networks of actions and communities of practice at two sites. The first case study explores the role of the chaîne opératoire in identifying modes of craft transmission, while the second reveals several communities of practice, operating contemporaneously within the same site and sharing a market for similar products. Show less
Using case studies from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, this article discusses the collection of molluscs and the production of salt in the Gulf of Fonseca in the Late Classic and Early... Show moreUsing case studies from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, this article discusses the collection of molluscs and the production of salt in the Gulf of Fonseca in the Late Classic and Early Postclassic. Based on the case studies, different models of procurement and redistribution are presented: specialized in-settlement production, centralized production and redistribution, and, finally, procurement and redistribution through seasonal mobility. These models are used to discuss the technical traditions associated with the foraging of resources, and furthermore used to present hypotheses on how the challenge was met in different localities. In this perspective, I explore the advantages of the Gulf region for economic activities. I also discuss the role of the environment for foraging techniques and distribution practices. This article relates directly to other ethnoarchaeological and archaeological salt studies from neighbouring areas. Moreover, it aims to present compiled information from three countries to give a regional overview as a first step towards the documentation of the Gulf of Fonseca as an entity. Show less
