On the Edge of the Maya World: Current Archaeological Research on Ambergris Caye, Belize
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Ancient Maya settlements on Ambergris Caye, the largest and northernmost island of Belize, were part of a network of coastal communities in southeastern Mesoamerica that together played a significant role in the Maya economy. Yet despite the prominent role it played in Maya coastal trade, Ambergris Caye has been understudied from an archaeological perspective. However, this situation has changed in recent years. This paper presents some of the preliminary results of two projects recently conducted on the island – an archaeological investigation of the Late Postclassic San Pedro site, and an island-wide LiDAR survey project. Both projects have provided new insights into ancient Maya life on the island. Excavations at the San Pedro site have revealed characteristics of Late Postclassic Maya domestic construction, mortuary practices, and material culture. Recent findings from work at San Pedro will be discussed in light of previous research findings from other Belizean coastal sites dating to the same period. Later reoccupation of the site by late 19th Century Caste War refugees from Yucatan will also be discussed in this presentation. The LiDAR survey has provided new information on Maya land use practices on the island. Specifically, it has revealed the presence of a network of polygonal and linear features in the central and northern areas of the island that appear similar to the albarradas and other field wall features found in many parts of northern Yucatan as well as some in northwestern Belize.
