The Organization of Refuse Disposal and Ceramic Production within Contemporary Mexican Houselots

Ethnoarcheological investigations have indicated that refuse is differentially treated within domestic compounds. One contributing factor appears to be the amount of area available for activities within the houselot. This possibility is discussed using two sets of data: the system of houselot refuse disposal and the organization of household‐level ceramic production. Houselot maintenance, as reflected in the composition and distribution of refuse items found across the patio, varies as a function of effective patio area. The use of kilns versus open firing in these households is also sensitive to available area within the residential compound. The findings underscore the important relationship between spatial constraints and the organization of waste management and craft production within the domestic setting.