The Island and the Mainland: Connections between Maya Communities on Ambergris Caye and North-Central Belize

Summary

Ancient Maya occupation on Ambergris Caye has been documented from Preclassic through Postclassic times. Work at the site of Marco Gonzalez has concentrated on several structures in which we have found solid evidence for connections to Maya polities in northern Belize and beyond. Nonetheless, relationships with mainland communities changed substantially over time. Although the northern location of the caye makes it seem logical that its closest connections were with north-central Belize communities, there is evidence that connections with northern Belize in particular intensify in Terminal Classic times and continue through the Postclassic. Here we discuss the material evidence for these connections through time.

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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