Preclassic Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala: New Interpretations on Social Processes

Kaminaljuyu is one of the most important sites in Mesoamerica and has been a major focus of archaeological research by many scholars. The currently prevalent chronology of Kaminaljuyu, established mostly by relative ceramic dating, implies that various social and political institutions developed significantly earlier in the southern Maya area than in the Maya lowlands during the Preclassic period. Evaluations of new and existing data, however, suggest that this chronology needs to be revised substantially. Such a chronological revision indicates that scholars also need to question existing interpretations on the role that Kaminaljuyu and the Maya highlands played in the development of centralized polities in the Maya area. Session participants will discuss relevant data, including ceramics, radiocarbon dates, and stone monuments, and present new interpretations on social processes.