Under the direction of Dr. Stephen Houston, Mr. Christopher Beekman will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will continue his ongoing archaeological research in the Atemajac and Tala- Ahualulco-Teuchitlan valleys in Jalisco Mexico. The region is extremely interesting because during the Classic period (A.D. 200- 900) it marked the boundary between two large complex polities, one centered at Teuchitlan the other at the Central Mexican site of Teotihuacan. What Mr. Beekman wishes to study is the interaction between these two "states", how they changed over time, and what specific adaptations were made in the border region between the two. In order to accomplish this goal he will conduct a site survey and note architectural forms and site distribution. He will also collect surface materials including both pottery and obsidian stone tools. Since designs on pottery relfect ethnic affiliation, be will analyze the ceramics from this perspective to determine whether or not ethnic differences are clearly defined and how this may change over time. By conducting chemical analysis to determine clay source as well as the points of origin for obsidian stone tools, he will also gain insight into economic and trade relationships. This research is important because it will provide insight into how complex polities interact and how boundaries are established, maintained and altered over a long period of time. Over the ca. 700 time interval under study the relative powers of these two polities changed and it will be possible to determine how direct contact and relations varied along with this. The work will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will also assist in the training of a promising young scientist.
