Current Investigations in the Petén Lakes Region, Guatemala

The lakes region of Petén, Guatemala, an area stretching from Lake Sacpuy in the west to Lake Sacnab in the east, has been the target of archaeological investigation for the past two decades by a series of projects that began with the Proyecto Maya-Colonial in 1994. For the last six years (2009-2014), research has focused on the sites Nixtun-Ch'ich', Tayasal, Muralla de Leon, and Zacpetén, including both new excavation and laboratory analyses. This session presents some results of this recent work. Survey at Nixtun-Ch'ich' has revealed evidence of complex city planning, while a separate survey project at Muralla de Leon has brought to light new details about the site's defensive system. Analysis of both human and faunal remains recovered from various sites in the region continues to aid in discerning how indigenous traditions changed after the area was conquered by the Spaniards in A.D. 1697. In addition, studies of obsidian and chert are helping us to understand exchange systems, as well as stone tool production and use, and recent ceramic analysis is revealing new details about the Preclassic period in the Petén Lakes region.