Overview

This study examines the origins of complex society in the Maya Lowlands during the Middle Preclassic period. Excavations at Cahal Pech - a mid-sized Maya settlement in the Belize River Valley - revealed complex architectural sequences over a 600-year developmental period, which spans the time of the earliest permanent villages in the area and the emergence of institutionalized hierarchy characteristic of later Maya civilization. The author uses spatial analysis to investigate artifact distribution patterns related to architectural change and marshals a diverse dataset to support a network framework for understanding developing complexity. This new theoretical framing expands on studies of long-distance exchange to examine how households and communities could gain advantage by participating in interaction networks, and how the positioning of some entities in networks could have produced socioeconomic inequalities that became entrenched through time.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sherman W. Horn III
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   1.380kg
ISBN:  

9781407357546

ISBN 10:   1407357549
Pages:   346
Publication Date:   29 October 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 Foreword Abstract 1. Introduction A Brief Introduction to the Middle Preclassic in the Maya Lowlands Cahal Pech, Where We Lay Our Scene Methodological Framework Structure of this Monograph Objectives of this Research 2. The Culture History of Preclassic Mesoamerican and History of Research at Cahal Pech Introduction Antecedents: Preceramic Mesoamerica and the Early Preclassic Paleoindian and Archaic The Early Formative outside the Maya Lowlands: 2000 - 900 B.C. The transition to the Middle Formative/Preclassic in Mesoamerica: 1100 - 900 B.C. The Middle Formative/Preclassic outside and inside the Maya Lowlands: 900 - 350 B.C. The Middle Formative outside the Maya Lowlands The Maya Lowlands during the Middle Preclassic Northern Lowlands Rio Pasión Drainage/Southern Petén Eastern/Central Petén and the Mirador Area Northern Belize The Belize Valley The Late Preclassic Consequences of Middle Preclassic Development Previous Investigations at Cahal Pech Early Investigations: Before 1988 Excavations After 1988 Cahal Pech Project: 1988-1991 San Diego State University Excavations Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance: 1992-present Belize Valley Preclassic Maya Project: 1994-1997 3. Theoretical Approach and Small-World Networks Introduction Previous Models: Ecology vs. Agency, Regional vs. Local Ecological Approaches Power, Prestige, and Agent-based Approaches Interaction and Exchange in the Middle Preclassic Maya Lowlands What We Know What We Do Not Know and How We Think About Exchange and Interaction Middle Preclassic Social Organization as Nested Interaction Networks Households as Networks Communities as Networks Regions as Networks A Complex Web of Networks A Hypothetical Network Structure: The Small World and its Properties Networks and Social Identity Networks and Politics Summary 4. Methods and Bridging Arguments Introduction Belize Valley Archaeological Project: 2004-2009 Excavation and Recording Methods Excavations in Plaza B Artefact Processing and Preliminary BVAP Analyses Additional Fieldwork and Laboratory Analyses Remapping Plaza B and Creating the Cahal Pech Geodatabase Small Finds Analysis Pottery Analysis Architectural and Contextual Analysis Architectural Analysis Contextual Analysis Resource Zones and Consumption Variability: Conceptualizing Networks Resource Zones Investigating Variability Summary 5. The Natural Environment and Resource Zones Introduction Modern Political Geography Regional Climate and Weather Landscape: Topography, Geology and Resource Zones Coastal and Offshore Zone Northern Karst and Plains Zone Southern Karst and Hills Maya Mountains Resource Areas outside Belize The Belize Valley Zone: Local Environment and Resources Landforms Geology Hydrology Soils Flora and Fauna Summary 6. The Middle Preclassic Built Environment of Cahal Pech Introduction Overburden and Later Plaza Floors Late Preclassic Plaza Floors Plaza B Architectural Sequences Operation 1: Plaza B North Sequence Phase 0: Bedrock Modification and Soil Occupation Horizon (Cunil or Earlier?) Phase I: Marl Dwelling and Patio Floors and Cobble Surface (Transitional Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase II: Cobble and Marl Platform, Marl Patio Surface (early facet Kanluk) Phase III: Patio Floors and Small Cobble Platforms (early facet Kanluk) Phase IV: Large Cobble-and-Marl Platforms (early facet Kanluk-Kanluk) Phase V: Plaster Floor 4 (late facet Kanluk-early facet Xakal) Operation 1: Plaza B Central Sequence Phase 0: Bedrock Modification and Soil Occupation Horizon (Cunil or Earlier?) Phase I: Cobble surfaces (Transitional Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase IVb: Cobble feature and Plaster Floor 5 (early facet Kanluk -Kanluk) Phase V: Floor 4 Operations 1 and 7: Plaza B South Sequence Phase 0: Bedrock modification and Occupation Horizon (Cunil or Earlier?) Phase I: Cobble surfaces, marl floors, and a plaster patch (Transitional Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase II: Soft and hard marl surfaces, raised marl platform (Transition Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase III: Cut stone rectangular platform and marl floors (early facet Kanluk) Phase IV: Cut stone rounded platform with plaster floor (early facet Kanluk-Kanluk) Phase V: Plaza Floor 4 Operation 3 Phase 0: Bedrock Modification and Occupation Horizon Phase I: Low plaster floors (Transitional Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase II: Eroded plaster floor (early facet Kanluk) Phase IV: Cut-stone platforms, marl floors, refuse pit (early facet Kanluk - late facet Kanluk) Phase V: Cobble surfaces, plaster floor (late facet Kanluk-early facet Xakal) Operation 4 Phase IV: Limestone cobble platform (early facet Kanluk-Kanluk) Phase V: Plaster floor (late facet Kanluk-early facet Xakal) Operation 5 Phase I: Stone alignment, carbon stains (Transitional Cunil-early facet Kanluk) Phase II: Marl surfaces (early facet Kanluk) Phase IV: Marl-and-flagsto

Reviews

'Mayanists will find the volume a highly useful and stimulating addition to the existing corpus of publications.' Dr David Pendergast, UCL 'Horn's volume is a welcome addition to archaeological literature as it presents the actual excavation data and artefactual materials upon which the newer theoretical formulations about the Middle Preclassic period are based [.] It provides a trove of information for future researchers.' Professor Arlen Chase, Pomona College

Author Information

Sherman W. Horn III is Research Associate at Exploring Solutions Past and Research Scientist at HD Analytical Solutions, Inc. He completed a PhD in anthropology at Tulane University in 2015. Sherman has worked in the Maya area since 2003 and has published papers on architecture, settlement, remote sensing, and materials analysis.

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