A Method for Identifying Surface Scatters in the Jungles of Belize: A Case Study from the Medicinal Trail Community

Summary

The implementation of systematic surface collection on a grid within Operation 17 at the Medicinal Trail Community in Northwestern Belize, highlights the importance of surface collection to the fuller understanding of ancient Maya socio-economics. Surface survey and collection at archaeological sites can lead to more precise interpretation of a site. However, jungle debris is often cleared from Maya sites with rakes, disrupting any surface collection before excavations begin. At Operation 17, care was taken not to disturb surface artifacts before excavation. Survey of surface scatter and further excavation of 4 of these units revealed that the surface and subsurface artifact concentrations were quite different. This poster looks further into the method of surface collection, and the kinds of information which can be learned from utilizing this method.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15979