From Marginalized to Impactful: Belizean Archaeology and the Classic Period Maya

Summary

This is an abstract from the "“The Center and the Edge”: How the Archaeology of Belize Is Foundational for Understanding the Ancient Maya" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The impact of Belizean centers and settlement on ancient Maya civilization of the Classic period (CE 250–900) has been recognized in the last 50 years of research. Before 1975 Belize was seen as being on the fringes of the Maya world and portrayed as a backwater. Most archaeological syntheses focused on the core area of the southern lowlands where the art and architecture of the ancient Maya were replete with hieroglyphic texts on beautifully carved stone monuments. Carved monuments with extended hieroglyphic histories occurred only at limited centers (Caracol, Pusilha) in the country of Belize, making it difficult to contextually place Belizean sites into broader Maya prehistory. Yet, over the last five decades, interpretations concerning Belize’s role in the ancient Maya world has changed substantially. Classic-era Belize was actively engaged in the broader Maya world. Belizean coastal sites were significantly involved in the inland salt trade. Altun Ha likely controlled the flow of trade goods emanating from the Atlantic. Caracol rivaled Tikal and Calakmul in global politics relative to the southern Maya region during the Classic era. Half a century of archaeological data has made once marginalized Belizean archaeological remains central for understanding the Classic period Maya fluorescence.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• “The Center and the Edge”: How the Archaeology of Belize Is Foundational for Understanding the Ancient Maya   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38503.0