Recent Building Excavations in the Triple-Courtyard "Palace" Group at the Ancient Maya Site of Pacbitun, Belize

Summary

Adjacent to Plaza B at Pacbitun is a Classic Period "palace" complex consisting of three conjoined courtyards each ringed by elevated range structures, likely serving elite-residential and administrative functions. Previous excavations indicated initial construction in the Early Classic period with numerous modifications made in the Late Classic, and preliminary evidence of occupation or use into the Terminal Classic period. The Pacbitun Regional Archaeological Project has begun to explore this palace complex to gain a better understanding of its architectural chronology and function in order to broaden our knowledge regarding the sociopolitical and economic changes taking place at Pacbitun during the Late to Terminal Classic period. At Structure 23 (Courtyard 2), 2017 excavations built upon earlier work to further explore a slate workshop/storage area and modifications restricting courtyard access. At Structures 22 and 33 preliminary excavations exposed portions of two Late Classic buildings enclosing a small courtyard atop a platform situated above Courtyard 3. Here we discuss the results of our excavations within the broader framework of Late to Terminal Classic changes in the Maya Lowlands and touch upon numerous questions generated regarding chronology, workshops, production control, building function, access restriction, and the roles of the three different courtyard groups.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20705