Ceramic | Terracotta | Fired Clay 

Caption

Import restricted since 1995.

Section 3m of Designated List in force since 1995.

Ancient Imports: Late Classic Palmar and Other Lowland Maya Ceramics
Several vessels of so-called ‘‘Peten Glossware’’ have been found in El Salvador that include the formally defined Palmar Ceramic Group, and may also include examples of the Saxche Ceramic Group and others (Sharer 1978). To date, three such vessels have been found in scientific excavation (one in a Tazumal tomb in the 1940’s, a Palmar vessel in an offering with an eccentric flint in San Andrés in the 1970’s, and a Palmar vessel in a grave on the outskirts of San Salvador in 1993). Several others have been documented in looting situations, including three recorded by Sharer (1978), and in private collections. Although these vessels were not made in the territory of El Salvador, they were definitely ancient imports and as such form part of Salvadoran cultural heritage, providing important testimony relative to long-distance social and economic relationships. Forms include bowls with flat or slightly rounded bottoms and walls ranging from slightly flaring (nearly vertical) to broadly flaring walls; shallow simple bowls; tecomates (spherical forms with a small orifice); and cylindrical vases. Bowls may have ring bases, hollow cylindrical supports, or other forms of supports. Decoration consists of an orange or cream base slip over which were painted designs in black, red, and sometimes yellow. Designs include: glyph bands; humans standing, seated, dancing, or in other attitudes; heads (human, animal, God K, and others); animals in different positions; and other themes rendered in Late Classic Lowland Maya style.

Example shown: Maya imported bowl with glyph band, Late Classic period.

For import restrictions in force from 1987, see History of Import Restrictions below.