Boundary traits in archaeological settlements of the Bolonchen district, Yucatán, México.

Author(s): Rossana May; Tomás Gallareta; William Ringle

Year: 2016

Summary

In the course of surveying a kilometer-wide strip linking the archaeological sites of Labna, Kiuic and Huntichmul, several types of rare feature clusters were recorded that are difficult to interpret. Although some spatial patterns of these "special" features with respect to the local topography were recognized as the survey proceeded, it wasn’t until the sample of 10 km2 was completed and analyzed using GIS "least cost routes" that we were able to offer a more thorough interpretation of their functionality.

The importance of these elements is that they represent markers of settlement limits created by their ancient inhabitants, so they can lead us to interpretations about how built space was emically conceived and organized. These boundary elements seem to be related to the custody of borders, and the control of people and goods moving through the roads, although most probably they may also convey ideological meanings.

Cite this Record

Boundary traits in archaeological settlements of the Bolonchen district, Yucatán, México.. Rossana May, Tomás Gallareta, William Ringle. Presented at The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Orlando, Florida. 2016 ( tDAR id: 403109)

Keywords

General
settlements

Geographic Keywords
Mesoamerica

Spatial Coverage

min long: -107.271; min lat: 12.383 ; max long: -86.353; max lat: 23.08 ;