Fine Orange ceramics, speciality serving wares of the Terminal Classic (ca. A.D. 810–950/1000) in the Maya area, have long been implicated in the identification of changing political and social relationships. Some previously subordinate political centers thrived during this time as many of the dominant Classic polities were embroiled in crises and reductions in their populations. This paper examines molded-carved Fine Orange and “imitation” Fine Orange ceramics from a trio of closely-located sites that prospered during the Terminal Classic period: Ucanal, La Blanca, and Calzada Mopan in the middle Mopan Valley in Petén, Guatemala. Chemical paste analyses using a portable X-ray fluorescence instrument, microphotography, and traditional Ware-Type-Variety analyses reveal that potters in this region did not blindly imitate Fine Orange ceramics, but picked and chose techniques and designs that drew from multiple communities of practice. Furthermore, these sites had access to decorative serving vessels that were produced in multiple regions throughout the Southern Maya Lowlands, placing them at an important nexus of political, economic, and social interaction. We argue that molded-carved and other decorated ceramics served as boundary objects, which articulated different pottery producing communities and forged marriage and political ties between different polities in a new decentralized political landscape.

精美的橙色陶瓷是玛雅地区 Terminal Classic（约公元 810-950/1000 年）的特色餐具，长期以来一直与不断变化的政治和社会关系的识别有关。由于许多占主导地位的经典政体卷入危机和人口减少，一些以前从属的政治中心在此期间蓬勃发展。本文研究了位于危地马拉佩滕莫潘山谷中部的乌卡纳尔 (Ucanal)、拉布兰卡 (La Blanca) 和卡尔扎达莫潘 (Calzada Mopan) 的三个位置密切的地点，这些地点在经典末期时期繁荣发展的模制雕刻精细橙色和“仿制”精细橙色陶瓷。使用便携式 X 射线荧光仪器、显微照相术和传统的陶器类型品种分析进行化学浆料分析表明，该地区的陶工并没有盲目地模仿 Fine Orange 陶瓷，但从多个实践社区中挑选并选择了技术和设计。此外，这些地点可以使用在整个南玛雅低地的多个地区生产的装饰服务容器，将它们置于政治、经济和社会互动的重要纽带。我们认为，模雕和其他装饰陶瓷作为边界对象，它们连接了不同的陶器生产社区，并在新的去中心化政治格局中建立了不同政体之间的婚姻和政治纽带。经济和社会互动。我们认为，模雕和其他装饰陶瓷作为边界对象，它们连接了不同的陶器生产社区，并在新的去中心化政治格局中建立了不同政体之间的婚姻和政治纽带。经济和社会互动。我们认为，模雕和其他装饰陶瓷作为边界对象，它们连接了不同的陶器生产社区，并在新的去中心化政治格局中建立了不同政体之间的婚姻和政治纽带。