In the Realm of Nachan Kan: Postclassic Maya Archaeology at Laguna De On, Belize

343 Pages·2001·2.99 MB·English

by  Marilyn A. Masson

In the Realm of Nachan Kan
Mesoamerican Worlds: From the Olmecs to the Danzantes
General editors: Davíd Carrasco and Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
editorial Board: Alfredo López Austin, Anthony Aveni, Elizabeth Boone, William Fash,
Charles H. Long, Leonardo López Luján, and Eleanor Wake
After Monte Albán, Jeffrey P. Blomster, editor
The Apotheosis of Janaab’ Pakal, Gerardo Aldana
Carrying the Word, Susanna Rostas
Commoner Ritual and Ideology in Ancient Mesoamerica, Nancy Gonlin and Jon C. Lohse, editors
Conquered Conquistadors, Florine Asselbergs
Empires of Time, Anthony Aveni
Encounter with the Plumed Serpent, Maarten Jansen and Gabina Aurora Pérez Jiménez
Fanning the Sacred Flame, Matthew A. Boxt and Brian Dervin Dillon, editors
In the Realm of Nachan Kan, Marilyn A. Masson
Invasion and Transformation, Rebecca P. Brienen and Margaret A. Jackson, editors
The Kowoj, Prudence M. Rice and Don S. Rice, editors
Life and Death in the Templo Mayor, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
The Lords of Lambityeco, Michael Lind and Javier Urcid
The Madrid Codex, Gabrielle Vail and Anthony Aveni, editors
Maya Creation Myths, Timothy W. Knowlton
Maya Daykeeping, John M. Weeks, Frauke Sachse, and Christian M. Prager
Maya Worldviews at Conquest, Leslie G. Cecil and Timothy W. Pugh, editors
Mesoamerican Ritual Economy, E. Christian Wells and Karla L. Davis-Salazar, editors
Mesoamerica’s Classic Heritage, Davíd Carrasco, Lindsay Jones, and Scott Sessions, editors
Mexico’s Indigenous Communities, Ethelia Ruiz Medrano, translated by Russ Davidson
Mockeries and Metamorphoses of an Aztec God, Guilhem Olivier, translated by Michel Besson
Negotiation within Domination, Ethelia Ruiz Medrano and
Susan Kellogg, editors; translated by Russ Davidson
Networks of Power, Edward Schortman and Patricia Urban
Rabinal Achi, Alain Breton, editor; translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan and Robert Schneider
Representing Aztec Ritual, Eloise Quiñones Keber, editor
Ruins of the Past, Travis W. Stanton and Aline Magnoni, editors
Skywatching in the Ancient World, Clive Ruggles and Gary Urton, editors
Social Change and the Evolution of Ceramic Production and
Distribution in a Maya Community, Dean E. Arnold
The Social Experience of Childhood in Mesoamerica, Traci Ardren and Scott R. Hutson, editors
Stone Houses and Earth Lords, Keith M. Prufer and James E. Brady, editors
The Sun God and the Savior, Guy Stresser-Péan
Sweeping the Way, Catherine DiCesare
Tamoanchan, Tlalocan, Alfredo López Austin
Thunder Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Anath Ariel de Vidas; translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, H. B. Nicholson
The World Below, Jacques Galinier
In the Realm of Nachan Kan
,
POSTCLASSIC MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY AT LAGUNA DE ON BELIZE
by Marilyn A. Masson

UNIVERSITY PRESS OF COLORADO
Copyright © 2000 by the University Press of Colorado
Published by the University Press of Colorado
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All rights reserved
First paperback edition 2015
Printed in the United States of America
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The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in
part, by Adams State University, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Metro-
politan State University of Denver, Regis University, University of Colorado, University
of Northern Colorado, Utah State University, and Western State Colorado University.
∞This paper meets the requirements of the ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of
Paper).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Masson, Marilyn A.
In the realm of Nachan Kan : Postclassic Maya archaeology at Laguna de On, Belize /
by Marilyn A. Masson.
p. cm. — (Mesoamerican worlds)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87081-567-9 (alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-60732-356-3 (pbk : alk. paper)
1. Laguna de On Site (Belize) 2. Mayas—Belize—Orange Walk District—Antiqui-
ties. 3. Maya pottery—Belize— Orange Walk District. 4. Mayas—Mexico—Chetumal
(Province)—Kings and rulers. 5. Land settlement patterns—Belize—Orange Walk
District. 6. Orange Walk District (Belize)—Antiquities. I. Title. II. Series.
F1435.1.L23 M37 2000
972.82'6—dc21
00-064828
Design by Laura Furney
Typesetting by Daniel Pratt
For Linda Schele,
one of the greatest Mayanists of all time.
You raised the dawn of the next creation.

Contents
List of Figures ix
List of Tables xiii
Preface xv
1. Introduction: From the Eleventh Century Forward 1
2. The Physical and Political Geography of Laguna de On 8
3. Northern Belize Postclassic Ceramic Chronology 39
4. Community Patterns at Laguna de On 74
5. Economic Production and Exchange at Laguna de On 105
6. Religious Institutions and Elite Power 194
at Postclassic Maya Communities
7. Postclassic Maya Cultural Development in 265
the Realm of Nachan Kan
Appendix: A Comparison of Hocaba and Tases Ceramic 278
Complexes at Mayapan
References 282
Index 318
vii

Figures
2.1. The vicinity of Laguna de On. 9
2.2. Early Postclassic sites in northern Belize. 36
2.3. Late Postclassic sites in northern Belize. 37
3.1. Postclassic sequences published for Maya Lowlands sites. 55
3.2. Percentage of Hocaba and Tases ceramics in late lots at Mayapan. 59
3.3. Percentage of Tases ceramics represented by Chen Mul– 60
modeled effigy censers.
3.4. Payil Incised red-slipped ceramic rim sherds from 66
tripod sag-bottom bowls.
3.5. Payil Incised red-slipped ceramic rim and neck sherds 67
from small collared jars.
3.6. Unslipped ceramics from Laguna de On Island. 68
3.7. Postclassic C-14 dates for Laguna de On. 69
4.1. Postclassic settlement at Laguna de On. 76
4.2. Line of stone construction “box shrine,” shore of Laguna de On. 77
4.3. Map of Laguna de On Island showing location of test units. 79
4.4. Stratigraphy at Laguna de On Island. 81
4.5. Profile perspective of Lot 34 fire feature. 82
4.6. Plan of Lot 295 fire feature and contents. 83
4.7. Row of burials excavated in Subop 5 trench. 90
4.8. Cobble surface of Late Facet domestic structure, Subop 17. 91
4.9. Plan map of Structure I (Subop 8). 92
4.10. God-K eccentric flint found at the southwest corner of 93
Structure I.
4.11. Plan map of Subop 7, Late Facet marl limestone surface. 94
4.12. Plan of Structure II (Subop 12). 98
4.13. Carbonized disk found in rubble platform of Structure II. 99
4.14. Possible ballcourt depression feature. 100
4.15. Cross section of Laguna de On Island at Subop 5, 101
showing terrace construction fill on the island’s east side.
ix