Ancient Maya Settlement and the Alacranes Bajo: Landscape and Communities in the Three Rivers Region, Northwestern Belize

Description

This work represents the archaeological investigation of a distinctive zone of the Three Rivers Region (TRR) of far northwestern Belize. The zone is dominated by the Alacranes Bajo, a seasonally inundated karstic depression bordered by the settlements of Nojol Nah and Tulix Mul. Understanding the relationship of the settlements to the bajo and to the wider political landscape of the TRR contributes to the knowledge of land use by the ancient Maya. This book investigates whether the settlements on the eastern edge of the Alacranes Bajo could be described as bajo-centric. Were they specifically located with the purpose of utilising the bajo's resources? Or, do the settlements fit a wider pattern characteristic of the TRR? To address these questions, excavations were undertaken of households, monumental structures, and landscape features associated with the sites in question. The results of the excavations are described and assessed within the local, regional and inter-regional context. Front Cover Title Page Copyright UCL INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY PHD SERIES Acknowledgements TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures List of Tables Abstract Introduction 1. The Eastern Alacranes Bajo Area: Background to Research 2. A Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Ancient Maya Settlements and Landscape on the Eastern Edge of the Alacranes Bajo 3. The Environmental setting of the Eastern Alacranes Bajo area 4. Previous Research in the Three Rivers Region 5. Methods 6. Mapping and Surface Collection 7. The Nojol Nah Settlement Zone 8. Tulix Mul 9. The Nojol Nah Site Centre 10. The Eastern Alacranes Bajo Area: Landscape and Archaeology 11. The Eastern Alacranes Bajo Area within the Three Rivers Region References