Painted pots and royal routes: hieroglyphic and ceramic traditions in the western Peten

Summary

The cities of the western Peten shared a common history and several ceramic traditions. In the northwest along the San Pedro Martir River, archaeological sites like El Peru (Waka’), Zapote Bobal (Hiix Witz), La Joyanca, and La Florida (Namaan) flourished with seemingly few—if any—clashes between them for the entirety of the Classic Period. That being said, we know that this region was greatly affected by the Tikal-Calakmul wars. There was even a ‘road’ or route between the sites allied to the ‘Snake’ kings that ran right through this region, ostensibly through El Peru and Zapote Bobal; indeed this route was one of the keys to their dominance in the Maya area during the seventh and early eighth centuries AD. It seems plausible to suggest that the bonds between the local communities here, with their shared traditions and apparently peaceful relations, may have formed in opposition to these larger geopolitical events. This paper will explore what we know from the hieroglyphic record and how it accords with the ceramic evidence for mutual cooperation in the western Peten.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Ceramics and Society among the Classic Maya Cities of the Western Petén

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16795