Changes in Ritual Practice: A Diachronic Example from Xunantunich, Group D

Summary

The Mopan Valley Preclassic Project has been conducting research at Group D, Xunantunich, a Late Classic elite residential unit with an eastern ancestor shrine. This research has significantly changed our understanding of the establishment and ritual re-use of this group. Recent investigations have revealed Late/Terminal Preclassic constructions including a small courtyard platform and an early structure buried within the Late Classic ancestor shrine. Thousands of ceramic sherds were encountered associated with the buried courtyard platform indicating a possible ritual function. In addition to this problematic deposit, a similarly extensive Late Classic ceramic deposit was found within a room in the eastern ancestor shrine. The presence of these enormous ceramic deposits is suggestive of ritual activities that might include feasting and/or termination activities. Though termination rituals are commonly discussed within the Maya catalogue of ritualized acts, archaeologists have identified distinctions between these ceremonies that indicate they are more complex and varied than the vague term of "termination" implies. In this paper, I discuss these two deposits in light of established criteria for termination rituals and feasting activities and provide some preliminary thoughts of ritual practices and the re-use of this sacred place.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

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