Hinterland Household Economy: A Preliminary Analysis of Data from the San Lorenzo Settlement Cluster.

Summary

This paper is a summary of recent archaeological investigations at the San Lorenzo settlement cluster in the Mopan River Valley of Western Belize. The primary objective of current research at this ancient hinterland settlement is to better understand the dynamics of ancient Maya household economic organization and integration during the Late and Terminal Classic periods (A.D. 670-890). Households are fundamental units of economic organization in both past and present societies. The examination of ancient household remains enables archaeologists to better understand micro-scale economic activities, and to situate those activities within larger societal contexts. Excavations in the 2014 field season focused on the investigation of the area south of structure group SL-22. This fieldwork documented numerous features associated with both the Preclassic and Classic occupations of San Lorenzo. Ongoing analysis of lithic macroartifacts suggests that the Classic period residents of SL-22 produced informal tools primarily with locally available raw materials. Examination of these materials further suggests that these ancient people also acquired chert from sources outside the San Lorenzo settlement cluster. This paper will also include a discussion of the relationship between macro and micro artifacts in the areas surrounding structure groups SL-22, SL-23, and SL-25.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

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