Analyzing the Relationship between Peri-abandonment Deposits and the Eastern Shrine of Xunantunich, Group B

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Peri-abandonment deposits in the Maya region have been a source of contention in recent years given the varied artifact assemblages and the lack of clear understanding for their purpose. This research describes peri-abandonment deposits at Xunantunich, Group B, an elite residential plazuela group located approximately 150 meters from the site core. Excavations focused on Structure B-1, the eastern shrine where multiple, layered deposits of artifacts were discovered along the southern outside wall of the structure. Artifacts collected include faunal remains, ceramic sherds, and lithics, as well as materials that are ideologically significant to the Maya such as jade, obsidian, and eccentrics. Ceramic and lithic artifacts were analyzed in-field during the June 2018 field session and faunal remains were previously analyzed in 2017. By analyzing the artifacts recovered in the deposits and incorporating ritual and symbolic theoretical approaches this research contributes to understanding the relationship between the deposits and Structure B-1.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24999