Geospatial Analysis of Material Procurement and Distribution in the Hinterlands of Northwestern Belize

Summary

The ancient Maya employed a wide variety of lithic raw materials for tool manufacture, such as strategies that combined local production of flaked stone tools with the import of some finished tools from distant sources. Over time, variable stone tool acquisition, manufacture, and use are reflected in the comparative differences in the formal versus expedient technologies and raw material types from a variety of contexts, including ceremonial, non-domestic, and domestic. The authors will present an overview of the dataset from excavations in northwestern Belize and the lithic raw materials available from sources within and adjacent to the research area. Geospatial analysis of raw material procurement and distribution during the Late and Terminal Classic periods will be examined through the use of a Geographic Information System. The spatial distribution of materials will provide insights into the regional and localized circulation of goods. Indicators of greater diversification and intensification are expected to appear in productive households to confirm that the local economy was focusing on supplying and procuring materials for commodity and non-commodity production to support administrative structures and guarantee integration in the local and regional economy.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage