GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF FLOOR VARIABILITY IN A FORMATIVE SUNKEN COURT COMPLEX, TARACO PENINSULA, BOLIVIA

This study assessed variability in the composition of floor deposits from two Formative sunken court structures using a suite of bulk pedological analyses and soil micromorphology. The Taraco Archaeological Project revealed the two sunken courts in 2003 through a series of discontinuous test pits that followed internal stone walling to occupation surfaces. A variety of flooring deposits, including multiple flooring events, were visible in profile. Characterization of floor deposits enables a more nuanced reconstruction of the structures and the artifacts they contain. These floors add to studies of other Formative floors to further the understanding of Bolivian Formative construction practices.