Interpreting Changes in Ancient Maya Society: From Landscape and Architecture to Everything in Between

The Maya are notorious for actively manipulating their natural and built environment. As complex cities developed, there was continuous alteration of core centers and surrounding spaces as well as to the material remains found within them. This tradition of constant change has led to theoretical questions of the meaning in addition to practical questions of the function of these spaces and artifacts. This session attempts to identify changes and interpret the meaning and functions of space, built and natural, and material remains found within them through a comparative Mesoamerican lens. At a macro level, some cases look at the changing layout in these organic cities attempting to understand the meaning of complexes. At a micro level, these investigations attempt to understand the meaning of change in material remain patterns. While the material remains archaeologist work with are static this sessions attempts to identify the meaning of these materials in moments in time where they serve as evidence of change.