Searching for Continuity in the Hinterlands: Households at Rancho San Lorenzo’s Floodplain North Settlement Cluster, Belize

Summary

In this paper I will summarize the results of the 2013 and 2014 field seasons at the Floodplain North settlement cluster, located within the Rancho San Lorenzo Survey Area in the Mopan River Valley, Belize. Investigations sought to identify continuous occupation from the Late Classic to Postclassic periods. Maya occupation at Rancho San Lorenzo peaked in the Late Classic, followed by a drastic decrease in population levels. However, pedestrian survey undertaken in 2013 revealed Postclassic ceramics at the Floodplain North settlement cluster, one of five distinct clusters within Rancho San Lorenzo. The 2013 season also included test excavations at five house-mounds with the primary goal of identifying more Postclassic ceramic data. Based on the 2013 data, the primary objectives of the 2014 field season were to continue testing house-mounds throughout the Floodplain North cluster and, using ceramic data, identify a chronology of occupation. A total of six house-mounds were tested. Excavations revealed a strong Late Classic to Terminal Classic presence, with possible continuity into the Postclassic.

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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