Vision and Revision in the Use of Residential and Non-Residential Space at Middle Preclassic Maya Sites: A View from Pacbitun, Belize

Summary

Most Maya archaeologists never take advantage of excavating into plazas. The perception might be that there isn’t much information other than recovering artifacts to date successive constructive phases associated with the buildings they are investigating along the edges of the plaza. Over the years, some archaeologists have seen the utility of this approach – one that emphasizes locating early Maya buildings, even entire communities - beneath plaza surfaces in site centers. The amount of data can significantly impact one’s understanding of site formation and development. Without investigating plaza architecture how does an archaeologist know the complete construction sequence for any site center? For example, temples are a constant feature of ancient Maya societies, yet their origins remain somewhat obscure. Where are the earliest temples located on a Maya site? Are their Classic period counterparts always built directly over top of them? Are temples ever completely buried beneath plaza surfaces? If so, why? Where are early temples found in relation to residences, whether they are elite or commoner? These questions and others are being addressed at Pacbitun where we are investigating why spot X as opposed to spot Y, and comparing our results with other in the Belize Valley and beyond.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• From the Fields to the Palaces of the Prehistoric Maya: Hono(u)ring the Contributions of the late Peter D. Harrison   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage