Dragons through a Ceramic Lens: Evidence for a North-Central Belize Ceramic (Sub)-Sphere

Summary

As viewed through a ceramic lens, it is becoming evident that North-Central Belize was distinct from surrounding areas. Starting in the Middle Preclassic, the ceramics of the Swasey/Bladen Sphere of North-Central Belize are notably different than those of adjacent areas of the Belize Valley, Peten, and Yucatan. The extent of the Middle Preclassic Swasey/Bladen Sphere is becoming clearer with work at Ka’Kabish and the surrounding area. Similarly, the Terminal Classic/Early Postclassic ceramics of Lamanai and Ka’Kabish have unique attributes when compared to those of adjacent areas. The time periods in between— the Early Classic and Late Classic—still need further investigation in order to determine if they are also ceramically outstanding. Possible implications of a coherent North-Central Belize ceramic sphere or sub-sphere for political and cultural interaction/entanglement and shared identity will be explored.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Here be Dragons: Archaeology in North Central Belize.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage