The Ancient Maya of the Belize Valley: Half a Century of Archaeological Research

441 Pages·2003·8.77 MB·English

by  James F. Garber

ARCHAEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
Garber
“As Maya scholars raise increasingly clear and better informed questions about the de-
velopment of Maya civilization over two and a half millennia, the very rich data that this
highly recommended volume discusses are certain to play a crucial role in providing new
The Ancient Maya
answers and even more clarified questions.”— Journal of Anthropological Research
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“An outstanding body of evidence from Belize Valley that contributes to understanding the e

organization and dynamics of Maya society in general, and provides a stimulating basis for A
of the Belize Valley
further research. Strongly recommended.”—Choice n
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i
e
“A substantial contribution to Maya archaeology in particular, and Latin American anthro-
n
pology in general.”—The Journal of Latin American Anthropology
t

M
“An admirable contribution to the growing literature on Maya settlement research initiated
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by Gordon Willey in the Belize Valley in the 1950s.”—Shirley B. Mock, University of Texas, y
San Antonio a Half a Century of Archaeological Research

o
f

t
h
OvER HALf A CENTURY AGO, the late Gordon Willey began his research in the Belize e

Valley, and ten years later he published a synthesis of his data that is recognized B
e
today as a classic study of ancient Maya settlement patterns. This volume looks at the
l
abundant research that has taken place in the region since the 1950s (and includes a ret- i
z
rospective chapter from Willey that was submitted shortly before his death in April 2002). e

The Ancient Maya of the Belize Valley presents in a single volume highlights of the extensive V
data from the diverse sites in this part of Mesoamerica, one of the richest archaeological a
l
areas in the Maya world. The collection provides a key to understanding the valley’s ancient l
e
political and social organization by emphasizing the interconnectedness of the region’s y
settlements.
James f. Garber is professor of anthropology and field school director at Texas State
University. He is the author of Archaeology at Cerros Belize, Central America, volume 2, The
Artifacts.

A volume in the series Maya Studies, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase Edited by James F. Garber
Front cover: Blackman Eddy artifact, Kanocha phase ocarina fragment.
ISBN 978-0-8130-3979-4
University Press of Florida UPF
www.upf.com ,!7IA8B3-adjhje!
The Ancient Maya of the Belize Valley
Maya Studies
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
Maya Studies
Edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase
The books in this series will focus on both the ancient and the contemporary Maya peoples of Belize,
Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The goal of the series is to provide an integrated
outlet for scholarly works dealing with Maya archaeology, epigraphy, ethnography, and history. The
series will particularly seek cutting-edge theoretical works, methodologically sound site-reports,
and tightly organized edited volumes with broad appeal.
Salt: White Gold of the Ancient Maya, by Heather McKillop (2002)
Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Iximché, by C. Roger Nance, Stephen L. Whittington,
and Barbara E. Borg (2003)
The Ancient Maya of the Belize Valley: Half a Century of Archaeological Research,
edited by James F. Garber (2003; first paperback edition, 2011)
Unconquered Lacandon Maya: Ethnohistory and Archaeology of the Indigenous Culture Change,
by Joel W. Palka (2005)
Chocolate in Mesoamerica: A Cultural History of Cacao, edited by Cameron L. McNeil (2006)
Maya Christians and Their Churches in Sixteenth-Century Belize, by Elizabeth Graham (2011)
Chan: An Ancient Maya Farming Community, edited by Cynthia Robin (2012)
Motul de San Jose: Politics, History, and Economy in a Maya Polity, edited by Antonia E. Foias
and Kitty F. Emery (2012)
The Ancient Maya
of the Belize Valley
Half a Century of Archaeological Research
Edited by James F. Garber
University Press of Florida
Gainesville · Tallahassee · Tampa · Boca Raton
Pensacola · Orlando · Miami · Jacksonville · Ft. Myers · Sarasota
Copyright 2004 by James F. Garber
Printed in the United States of America. Printed in the United States of America. This book
is printed on Glatfelter Natures Book, a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry
Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a recycled stock that contains 30 percent post-consumer
waste and is acid-free.
All rights reserved
First cloth printing, 2004
First paperback printing, 2011
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The ancient Maya of the Belize Valley: half a century of archaeological research /
edited by James F. Garber
p. cm. — (Maya studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-2685-7 (cloth: alk. paper); ISBN 978-0-8130-3979-4 (pbk: alk. paper)
1. Maya—Belize River Valley (Guatemala and Belize)—Antiquities.
2. Excavations (Archaeology)—Belize River Valley (Guatemala and Belize)—History.
3. Belize River Valley (Guatemala and Belize)—Antiquities. I. Garber, James. II. Series.
F1445.A63 2004
972.82—dc21 2003054096
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University
System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida
Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, New College
of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida,
University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
Dedicated to the memory of Gordon R. Willey
(1913–2002)

Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Maps xv
List of Tables xvii
Foreword xix
Introduction
1. The Archaeology of the Belize Valley in Historical Perspective 1
Arlen F. Chase and James F. Garber
2. Retrospective 15
Gordon R. Willey
The Central Belize Valley
3. Middle Formative Prehistory of the Central Belize Valley:
An Examination of Architecture, Material Culture, and Sociopolitical
Change at Blackman Eddy 25
James F. Garber, M. Kathryn Brown, Jaime J. Awe,
and Christopher J. Hartman
4. Archaeological Investigations at Blackman Eddy 48
James F. Garber, M. Kathryn Brown, W. David Driver, David M. Glassman,
Christopher J. Hartman, F. Kent Reilly III, and Lauren A. Sullivan
5. Major Center Identifiers at a Plazuela Group Near the Ancient
Maya Site of Baking Pot 70
James M. Conlon and Terry G. Powis
6. Ancient Maya Settlement in the Valley of Peace Area 86
Lisa J. Lucero, Scott L. Fedick, Andrew Kinkella, and Sean M. Graebner
The Upper Belize Valley
7. Cahal Pech: The Middle Formative Period 103
Paul F. Healy, David Cheetham, Terry G. Powis, and Jaime J. Awe
8. The Role of “Terminus Groups” in Lowland Maya Site Planning:
An Example from Cahal Pech 125
David Cheetham
9. Buenavista del Cayo: A Short Outline of Occupational and Cultural
History at an Upper Belize Valley Regal-Ritual Center 149
Joseph W. Ball and Jennifer T. Taschek
10. Xunantunich in a Belize Valley Context 168
Richard M. Leventhal and Wendy Ashmore
11. The Royal Charter at Xunantunich 180
Virginia M. Fields
12. Buenavista del Cayo, Cahal Pech, and Xunantunich:
Three Centers, Three Histories, One Central Place 191
Jennifer T. Taschek and Joseph W. Ball
The Belize Valley: Neighboring Connections
13. The Ancient Maya Center of Pacbitun 207
Paul F. Healy, Bobbi Hohmann, and Terry G. Powis
14. Defining Royal Maya Burials: A Case from Pacbitun 228
Paul F. Healy, Jaime J. Awe, and Hermann Helmuth
15. Integration among Communities, Centers, and Regions:
The Case from El Pilar 238
Anabel Ford
16. The Classic Maya Trading Port of Moho Cay 257
Heather McKillop
The Belize Valley: Integration
17. Problems in the Definition and Interpretation of “Minor Centers”
in Maya Archaeology with Reference to the Upper Belize Valley 273
Gyles Iannone
18. The Emergence of Minor Centers in the Zones between
Seats of Power 287
W. David Driver and James F. Garber
19. The Terminal Classic to Postclassic Transition in the
Belize River Valley 305
James Aimers
20. Polities, Politics, and Social Dynamics: “Contextualizing”
the Archaeology of the Belize Valley and Caracol 320
Arlen F. Chase
Conclusion
21. Diverse Voices: Toward an Understanding of Belize Valley
Archaeology 335
Diane Z. Chase
References Cited 349
List of Contributors 403
Index 407