Overview

This volume presents the results of 35 years of archaeological research at the Maya site of Pacbitun, located in west central Belize. The site was continuously occupied from 900 BC to AD 800/900. Excavations focused on both the site core and periphery, with investigations centred around housemounds, workshops, causeways, caves, and other karst features. In the site core, we excavated at areas ranging from small domestic houses dating to the Middle Preclassic to large ceremonial architecture (e.g. courtyards, palaces, temples) and complexes (e.g. E Groups) dating to the Late/Terminal Classic periods. From a material culture perspective, we conducted extensive research on ancient Maya use of plants, animals, ground stone tools, musical instruments, and ceramics. Tying all of these aspects together, our project has routinely utilised spatial technologies and 3D modelling (aerial and terrestrial LiDAR, photogrammetry) that help to capture our research efforts, from architecture to material remains, over the long-term.

Full Product Details

Author:   Terry G. Powis ,  Sheldon Skaggs ,  George J. Micheletti ,  Jaime J. Awe
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   1.085kg
ISBN:  

9781407356631

ISBN 10:   1407356631
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   28 February 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Foreword 1. Introduction to the Archaeology of Pacbitun Terry G. Powis, Sheldon Skaggs, and George J. Micheletti Project History of Pacbitun Trent University-Pacbitun Archaeological Project (1984-1987) Trent University-Preclassic Maya Project (1995-1997) Pacbitun Preclassic Project (2008-2010) Pacbitun Regional Archaeological Project (2011-present) Investigations in the Site Epicentre Investigations in the Site Periphery Acknowledgements 2. Ancient Pacbitun: An Introduction to the Archaeological Site and Early Research Paul F. Healy Environmental Setting Chronology Excavations of the Site Epicentre and Core Zone (1980-1997) Plaza A Structure 1 Structure 2 Structure 4 and Structure 5 Plaza B Structure 8 and Sub-Structures B1 to B5 Structure 23 Plaza C Plaza E Structures 14 and 15 Eastern Court Structure 38 Monuments of Pacbitun Investigations of Settlement and Population Estimates Final Remarks Acknowledgements 3. Middle Preclassic Maya Community Organisation at Pacbitun, Belize Terry G. Powis Terminal Early Preclassic (1200-900 BC) Middle Preclassic Period (Mai Phase 900-300 BC) Early Mai Phase Plaza B Court 2 Late Mai Phase Plaza B Plaza A North Side South Side Major Transformations in Plazas A and B Periphery Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements 4. Middle Preclassic Faunal Utilisation at Pacbitun, Belize: Evidence for Ritual Practice, Exchange, and Craft Specialisation Arianne Boileau and Norbert Stanchly Previous Zooarchaeological Work at Pacbitun Archaeological Contexts Methodology Field Methods and Sample Recovery Methods of Zooarchaeological Analysis Sample Description Plaza B Plaza A Modified Remains Animal Resource Use Habitat Use and Trade Crafting The Emergence of Ritual Practice Conclusions Acknowledgements 5. The Defining Attributes of Pacbitun's Belize Valley E Group Variant George J. Micheletti The E Group Complex and the Belize Valley Eastern Triadic Assemblage (ETA) The Ceremonial Assemblage at Pacbitun A Ceremonial Precursor: The Mai Phase (900-300 BC) Initial Construction: Puc Phase (300-100 BC) Construction Episode 2: Ku Phase (100 BC-AD 300) Construction Episode 3: Tzul Phase (AD 300-550) Construction Episode 4: Coc Phase (AD 550-800) Construction Episode 5: Tzib Phase (AD 800-900) Discussion The Mai Phase (900-300 BC) Attributes The Puc Phase (300-100 BC) Attributes The Ku Phase (100 BC-AD 300) Attributes The Tzul Phase (AD 300-550) Attributes The Coc Phase (AD 550-800) Attributes The Tzib Phase (AD 800-900) Attributes Summary Acknowledgements 6. Palace Courts at the Ancient Maya Site of Pacbitun, Belize Sheldon Skaggs, Michael Lawrence, Karen Pierce, and Peter Cherico Background Excavations Structures 22 and 33 Court 1 Court 2 Court 3 Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements 7. Modelling Pacbitun: Experiments in Spatial Data Andrew J. Vaughan, Brian Gil, Peter Cherico, and Jeffrey A. Powis Theoretical Framework Methodology Data Acquisition: Photographic Data Data Acquisition: Spatial Data Data Processing: Photo Pre-Processing Data Processing: Modelling Software Processing Results Archiving Photogrammetric Data Conclusions Acknowledgements 8. Music, Performance, Rituals, and Ceramic Music Instrument Production at Pacbitun, Belize Kong F. Cheong Musical Instruments from the Maya Region Pacbitun's Musical Instruments: Assemblage and Contexts Made in Pacbitun Gendered Production in the Domestic and Public Domains The Soundscape at Pacbitun Conclusions Acknowledgements 9. Writing Pacbitun into the Historic Record of the Southern Maya Lowlands George J. Micheletti, Christophe Helmke, and Paul F. Healy Pacbitun, Belize Epigraphic History of Pacbitun Physical Examination of Pacbitun Monuments Contextual Analysis of the Pacbitun Monuments Discussion Conclusion Acknowledgements 10. The Ceremonial Karstscape of Pacbitun Jon Spenard, Michael J. Mirro, and C. L. Kieffer History of Research Theoretical Overview Surveying the Karstscape Phase I Investigations in the Pacbitun Karstscape: Actun Lak, Rocky Crab Cave, and the Nohoch Tunich Bedrock Outcrop Complex Rocky Crab Cave and Actun Lak The Nohoch Tunich Bedrock Outcrop Complex (NTC) Actun Nohoch Tunich Actun Xtuyul Actun Subuul Actun Ch'e'ehem Zotz Javier's Cave Actun Ku'uk Actun Ak Ha Actun Naj Che Phase II Investigations: Crystal Palace, Tzul's Cave, and Slate Cave Crystal Palace Tzul's Cave Slate Cave Cave Ceramics from a Broad Perspective Conclusions Acknowledgements 11. Ritual Plant Use in Pacbitun's Caves: A Social Paleoethnobotanical Approach Megan D. Parker and Jon Spenard Paleoethnobotanical Investigations Methods Results and Discussion Supporting Case Studies and Interpretations Conclusions Acknowledgements 12. Exploring Maya Ritual through Absorbed Residues in the Belize V

Reviews

'This book is a valuable source for Mayanists and for all researchers interested in how past societies organised and lived in ancient cities around the world.' Dr Lilia Fernandez Souza, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan 'The method for chemical characterisation and sourcing of granite artifacts using pXRF is entirely new.' Professor John S. Henderson, Cornell University 'The quality and range of work presented here is impressive.' Dr Gabriel Wrobel, Michigan State University

'This book is a valuable source for Mayanists and for all researchers interested in how past societies organised and lived in ancient cities around the world.' Dr Lilia Fernández Souza, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán 'The method for chemical characterisation and sourcing of granite artifacts using pXRF is entirely new.' Professor John S. Henderson, Cornell University 'The quality and range of work presented here is impressive.' Dr Gabriel Wrobel, Michigan State University      

Author Information

Terry G. Powis is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Kennesaw State University. Terry conducts research both in the Maya Lowlands of Belize, Central America, and the southeastern United States. He specialises in Maya pottery, diet and subsistence, and the evolution of complex societies. Sheldon Skaggs is a geoarchaeologist specialising in geophysics and Late Classic Maya archaeology. His current work focuses on ground stone tool production, excavations of palaces structures, and 3D modelling of artifacts and architecture at the site of Pacbitun, Belize. He is an associate professor at Bronx Community College, CUNY. George J. Micheletti is a graduate student in the Integrative Anthropological Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. His research interests focus on 3D modelling, ancestor veneration, ceremonial architecture, political organization, and remote sensing. Contributors: Arianne Boileau, Nicaela Cartagena, Arlen F. Chase, Kong F. Cheong, Peter Cherico, Nilesh Gaikwad, Brian Gil, Paul F. Healy, Christophe Helmke, Adam King, Michael Lawrence, George J. Micheletti, Michael J. Mirro, C.L. Kieffer, Megan D. Parker, Karen Pierce, Jeffrey A. Powis, Terry G. Powis, Sheldon Skaggs, Jon Spenard, Norbert Stanchly, Tawny Tibbits, Carmen Ting, Andrew J. Vaughan, Jennifer U. Weber.

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