The Baalche’ Group: An Investigation of a Preclassic Maya Palace at Yaxnohcah, Campeche, Mexico

Summary

As part of the on-going research into the development of socio-political complexity at the Maya site of Yaxnohcah, the Proyecto Arqueológico Yaxnohcah has been conducting investigations in the Baalche’ Group, a large courtyard group located at the center of the site. The group sits adjacent to many prominent architectural features, including a Preclassic period E-Group assemblage, a ball court, and a water reservoir. Radiocarbon dating and ceramic analysis has revealed that the Baalche’ Group itself was founded during the Late Preclassic period and was continuously occupied until the Terminal Classic period. Furthermore, our research suggests that the group likely functioned as an early palace, a place where the emerging rulers of Yaxnohcah resided and governed. This paper will present the findings from the investigations in the Baalche’ Group, with a particular focus on the factors that led to the early emergence of a palace complex at Yaxnohcah during the Preclassic period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• The Dynamics of the Preclassic in the Heart of the Maya Lowlands

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15663