Archaeological Research at the Formative Mayan Site of K'axob, Belize

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With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Patricia McAnany will conduct one season of fieldwork at the archaeological site of K'axob and analyze the materials collected. The site, located on a low rise in the lowland swamp and riverine country of northern Belize, covers about 84 hectares and includes approximately 90 structures with detectable surface elevation. The majority of these are low platforms. Prior excavation has indicated that this Mayan site includes stratified Formative Period strata and therefore it documents the early phase of the rise of Mayan civilization. In 1990, Dr. McAnany conducted test excavations at a large mound - Structure 18 - and recovered a sequence of human burials which cover most of the Formative and succeeding Classic periods. She will continue this work and expose a large horizontal area in this portion of the site. Excavation will also be conducted at other structures within this complex as well as at other plaza groups. While all classes of recovered remains will be studied, analysis will focus in three specific areas: 1. Domestic architecture will be analyzed to document chronological changes in the use of space within one location and to investigate differences in architectural elaboration among locations. 2. Burial practices. Since the way individuals are interred can yield information on social organization, and how this changes over time attention will be focussed on the predicted 170+ remains. 3. Flora and molluscs. These materials provide a basis for environmental reconstruction and through their analysis it should be possible to trace changing land use and agricultural practices. Prior to European arrival, the Maya peoples built a civilization in the inhospitable lowland jungles of Middle America. During its height in the Classic Period, cities centered around large temples and a priestly elite, were established and considerable archaeological research has provided a good picture of this interval. However, much less is known about the preceeding periods which set the groundwork for this achievement and Dr. McAnany's research should help to remedy this situation. It focusses on the development of the social inequality which is manifest during the Classic Period and which, Dr. McAnany believes provided a driving force for change. By studying variation in architecture, land use and burial practices she hopes to study this process in detail. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will increase our understanding of the emergence of Mayan civilization and provide insight into how complex societies arise.