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  2. An Archaeological Reconstruction of Ancient Maya Life at Pacbitun, Belize

An Archaeological Reconstruction of Ancient Maya Life at Pacbitun, Belize

Edited by Terry G. Powis, Sheldon Skaggs and George J. Micheletti
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  • Overview

  • Contents

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
Citable Link
Published: 2020
Publisher: BAR Publishing
Copyright Holder: BAR Publishing
ISBN(s)
  • 9781407356648 (ebook)
  • 9781407356631 (paperback)
BAR Number: S2970
Series
  • Archaeology of the Maya
Subject
  • Craft working (general titles, bone, glass, textiles, etc.)
  • Dress / Jewellery / Personal Ornament
  • Landscape Archaeology
  • Food and Drink / Diet
  • Ceramics and Pottery Studies
  • Epigraphy / Ancient and Medieval Texts / Papyri
  • Death / Burial / Cemeteries / Tombs
  • Art / Sculpture / Gems / Seals
  • Music and Dance
  • Remote Sensing and Aerial Photography
  • Theory and Method (general titles)
  • Excavation / Fieldwork / Survey
  • Ritual / Religion / Temples
  • Central and South America and the Caribbean
  • Prehistory (general titles only)
  • Architecture / Domestic and Urban Buildings and Space / Urbanism
  • Multiperiod
  • Archaeozoology / Bioarchaeology / Osteoarchaeology
  • Archaeobotany / Environment and Climate
  • Trade / Exchange / Travel / Economy
BAR Publishing logo +44 (0)1865 310431 info@barpublishing.com www.barpublishing.com

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