Excavation of an agave-roasting site in southern Arizona disclosed an unexpectedly large collection of sherds. Sherd aggregation and use-alteration analyses were undertaken to determine the role of the ceramics in agave processing. Results indicate that sherds and not vessels were brought to the site, and that sherds may have been used as scoops and possibly as nonflammable covers or receptacles during agave processing. These findings underscore the point that analyses of assemblages of sherds that are not refitted may disregard important information about the nature and organization of prehistoric processing technologies.
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