An Archaeological Reconstruction of Ancient Maya Life at Pacbitun, Belize

Description

This volume presents the results of 35 years of archaeological research at the Maya site of Pacbitun, located in west central Belize. The site was continuously occupied from 900 BC to AD 800/900. Excavations focused on both the site core and periphery, with investigations centred around housemounds, workshops, causeways, caves, and other karst features. In the site core, we excavated at areas ranging from small domestic houses dating to the Middle Preclassic to large ceremonial architecture (e.g. courtyards, palaces, temples) and complexes (e.g. E Groups) dating to the Late/Terminal Classic periods. From a material culture perspective, we conducted extensive research on ancient Maya use of plants, animals, ground stone tools, musical instruments, and ceramics. Tying all of these aspects together, our project has routinely utilised spatial technologies and 3D modelling (aerial and terrestrial LiDAR, photogrammetry) that help to capture our research efforts, from architecture to material remains, over the long-term. Cover Title Page Copyright Of Related Interest Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Foreword 1. Introduction to the Archaeology of Pacbitun Terry G. Powis, Sheldon Skaggs, and George J. Micheletti Project History of Pacbitun Trent University-Pacbitun Archaeological Project (1984-1987) Trent University-Preclassic Maya Project (1995-1997) Pacbitun Preclassic Project (2008-2010) Pacbitun Regional Archaeological Project (2011-present) Investigations in the Site Epicentre Investigations in the Site Periphery Acknowledgements 2. Ancient Pacbitun: An Introduction to the Archaeological Site and Early Research Paul F. Healy Environmental Setting Chronology Excavations of the Site Epicentre and Core Zone (1980-1997) Plaza A Structure 1 Structure 2 Structure 4 and Structure 5 Plaza B Structure 8 and Sub-Structures B1 to B5 Structure 23 Plaza C Plaza E Structures 14 and 15 Eastern Court Structure 38 Monuments of Pacbitun Investigations of Settlement and Population Estimates Final Remarks Acknowledgements 3. Middle Preclassic Maya Community Organisation at Pacbitun, Belize Terry G. Powis Terminal Early Preclassic (1200-900 BC) Middle Preclassic Period (Mai Phase 900-300 BC) Early Mai Phase Plaza B Court 2 Late Mai Phase Plaza B Plaza A North Side South Side Major Transformations in Plazas A and B Periphery Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements 4. Middle Preclassic Faunal Utilisation at Pacbitun, Belize: Evidence for Ritual Practice, Exchange, and Craft Specialisation Arianne Boileau and Norbert Stanchly Previous Zooarchaeological Work at Pacbitun Archaeological Contexts Methodology Field Methods and Sample Recovery Methods of Zooarchaeological Analysis Sample Description Plaza B Plaza A Modified Remains Animal Resource Use Habitat Use and Trade Crafting The Emergence of Ritual Practice Conclusions Acknowledgements 5. The Defining Attributes of Pacbitun’s Belize Valley E Group Variant George J. Micheletti The E Group Complex and the Belize Valley Eastern Triadic Assemblage (ETA) The Ceremonial Assemblage at Pacbitun A Ceremonial Precursor: The Mai Phase (900-300 BC) Initial Construction: Puc Phase (300-100 BC) Construction Episode 2: Ku Phase (100 BC-AD 300) Construction Episode 3: Tzul Phase (AD 300-550) Construction Episode 4: Coc Phase (AD 550-800) Construction Episode 5: Tzib Phase (AD 800-900) Discussion The Mai Phase (900-300 BC) Attributes The Puc Phase (300-100 BC) Attributes The Ku Phase (100 BC-AD 300) Attributes The Tzul Phase (AD 300-550) Attributes The Coc Phase (AD 550-800) Attributes The Tzib Phase (AD 800-900) Attributes Summary Acknowledgements 6. Palace Courts at the Ancient Maya Site of Pacbitun, Belize Sheldon Skaggs, Michael Lawrence, Karen Pierce, and Peter Cherico Background Excavations Structure 22 and 33 Court 1 Court 2 Court 3 Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements 7. Modelling Pacbitun: Experiments in Spatial Data Andrew J. Vaughan, Brian Gil, Peter Cherico, and Jeffrey A. Powis Theoretical Framework Methodology Data Acquisition: Photographic Data Data Acquisition: Spatial Data Data Processing: Photo Pre-Processing Data Processing: Modelling Software Processing Results Archiving Photogrammetric Data Conclusions Acknowledgements 8. Music, Performance, Rituals, and Ceramic Music Instrument Production at Pacbitun, Belize Kong F. Cheong Musical Instruments from the Maya Region Pacbitun’s Musical Instruments: Assemblage and Contexts Made in Pacbitun Gendered Production in the Domestic and Public Domains The Soundscape at Pacbitun Conclusions Acknowledgements 9. Writing Pacbitun into the Historic Record of the Southern Maya Lowlands George J. Micheletti, Christophe Helmke and Paul F. Healy Pacbitun, Belize Epigraphic History of Pacbitun Physical Examination of Pacbitun Monuments Contextual Analysis of the Pacbitun Monuments Discussion Conclusion Acknowledgements 10. The Ceremonial Karstscape of Pacbitun Jon Spenard, Michael J. Mirro, and C.L. Kieffer Nail History of Research Theoretical Overview Surveying the Karstscape Phase I Investigations in the Pacbitun Karstscape: Actun Lak, Rocky Crab Cave, and the Nohoch Tunich Bedrock Outcrop Complex Rocky Crab Cave and Actun Lak The Nohoch Tunich Bedrock Outcrop Complex (NTC) Actun Nohoch Tunich Actun Xtuyul Actun Subuul Actun Ch’e’ehem Zotz Javier’s Cave Actun Ku’uk Actun Ak Ha Actun Naj Che Phase II Investigations: Crystal Palace, Tzul’s Cave, and Slate Cave Crystal Palace Tzul’s Cave Slate Cave Cave Ceramics from a Broad Perspective Conclusions Acknowledgements 11. Ritual Plant Use in Pacbitun’s Caves: A Social Paleoethnobotanical Approach Megan D. Parker and Jon Spenard Paleoethnobotanical Investigations Methods Results and Discussion Supporting Case Studies and Interpretations Conclusions Acknowledgements 12. Exploring Maya Ritual through Absorbed Residues in the Belize Valley Adam King, Terry G. Powis, Jon Spenard, and Nilesh Gaikwad Analytical Methods The Sample Caves, Pots, and Bone Tubes Datura, Cacao, Vanilla, Chili, and Salicylic Acid Impacts of Contamination Results Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements 13. The Pacbitun Causeway System: Investigations of a Ritual Landscape Jennifer U. Weber and Jon Spenard A Different World – The Pacbitun Periphery The Pacbitun Causeway System Ancient Maya Causeways and the Ritual Landscape Causeway Symbology and the Ritual Landscape Investigating the Pacbitun Causeway System Periphery Zone Investigations Tzul and Tzib Causeways Crystal Palace Mound Site Core Excavations Structure 10 and Mai Causeway Tzul Causeway in the Site Core Conclusions Acknowledgements 14. Identification of an Ancient Maya Groundstone Production Site in the Periphery of Pacbitun, Belize Sheldon Skaggs, George J. Micheletti, Michael Lawrence, Nicaela Cartagena, and Terry G. Powis Geologic Sources of Granite in Belize Tzib Group Site Description Tzib Group Excavations: 2012 to 2017 Ethnohistorical Production of Manos and Metates in Mesoamerica The Assemblage Preforms Production Tools Debitage: Roughing Flakes, Chert Flakes, and Granite Sand Discussion: Implications of the Mano/Metate Production at Pacbitun Acknowledgements 15. Geochemical Sourcing of Granite Artefacts Tawny Tibbits Background Methods Results Conclusions Acknowledgements 16. The Terminal Classic at Pacbitun: Evidence from Moulded-carved Ceramics Christophe Helmke and Carmen Ting Comments on Type, Mode, and Paste Context and Ceramic Associations Dating Function Status Production and Technology Raw Material Selection and Paste Preparation Forming Surface Finishing Firing Specimen Descriptions 17. Contextualizing the Archaeology of Pacbitun, Belize: An Epilogue Arlen F. Chase References Cited Back Cover