Tlaloc Imagery in Western Belize and its Implications for Central Mexican and Lowland Maya Interaction

Summary

Recent archaeological investigations in western Belize have recovered evidence for the representation of Tlaloc imagery in the iconographic record of this sub-region of the Maya lowlands. In Central Mexican Civilizations, Tlaloc represented the important rain deity, equivalent, in many ways, to Cha’ac in the Maya area. In the case of western Belize, Tlaloc imagery appears to become increasingly popular at the end of the Classic period, and is depicted on a variety of mediums, including stucco decorations, stone monuments, and ceramic vessels. Besides discussing the nature of Tlaloc imagery in western Belize, this paper will provide information on the contexts of the imagery, and explore their implications for Central Mexican and Lowland Maya interaction at the end of the Late Classic period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

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