Dynamics of Growth and Transformation during the Terminal Classic: An Archaeological View from Nakum, Petén, Guatemala

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Movement of People and Ideas in Eastern Mesoamerica during the Ninth and Tenth Centuries CE: A Multidisciplinary Approach Part I" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Terminal Classic period (ca. AD 800–950) brings important sociopolitical and cultural changes to the Maya lowlands. Some of these changes are seen in iconography and architecture, and may reflect the migration of new people as well as the spread of new ideas across many areas of the Maya lowlands that are affected by decline and transformation. This paper examines new architectural modes visible in the centers of the Triangle Park of northeastern Guatemala toward the end of the Classic period. One of our aims is also to seek the sources of these new inspirations seen in architecture, art and other elements of material culture. Our major focus is Nakum—an important site that experienced unprecedented growth during the Terminal Classic period seen in the architectural development and demographic expansion. Archaeological data show that the Nakum’s growth may have been at least in part due to the collapse of older superpowers of this region, the influx of new people coming from the neighboring abandoned sites, and establishing of new trade and cultural contacts with centers that were experiencing growth and political expansion during the difficult times of the Terminal Classic period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Movement of People and Ideas in Eastern Mesoamerica during the Ninth and Tenth Centuries CE: A Multidisciplinary Approach Part I   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36188.0