Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T19:52:24.609Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Yucatec Influence in Terminal Classic Northern Belize

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Diane Z. Chase
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Arlen F. Chase
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Abstract

Excavations undertaken during 1978 and 1979 at Nohmul, Belize are believed to cast new light on the demise of the Maya. Investigations revealed Terminal Classic-San Jose V material intermixed with Late Classic to Early Postclassic Yucatec material in a single-unit refuse deposit. More importantly, striking architectural similarities exist between structures at Nohmul and Chichen-Itza; Structure 20 at Nohmul proved to be of the “patio-quad” type known previously only from Chichen-Itza, and Structure 9 of Nohmul may be put forth as a “Caracol” (Chichen-Itza Structure 3C15) counterpart. On the basis of excavations at Nohmul, it is implied that there is an association between Toltec Chichen-Itza (Sotuta) and the Terminal Classic periods to the south (San Jose V-Tepeu 3), in that the two are overlapping, if not coeval. Should this be the case, new alternatives relating to the Maya collapse must be considered.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Adams, R. E. W. 1971 The ceramics of Altar de Sacrificios. Peabody Museum Papers 63(1). Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Adams, R. E. W. 1973 Maya collapse: transformation and termination in the Ceramic sequence at Altar de Sacrificios. In The Classic Maya collapse, edited by Culbert, T. P., pp. 133163. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Adams, R. M., Jr. 1953 Some small ceremonial structures at Mayapan. Carnegie Institution of Washington, D.C., Department of Archaeology, Current Reports I (9):144179.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. W. IV 1943 The archaeology of southwestern Campeche. Contributions to American Archaeology and History 40:1100. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 546.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. W. IV 1973 The development of Maya civilization after the abandonment of the southern cities. In the Classic Maya collapse, edited by Culbert, T. P., pp. 243265. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Adovasio, J. M. 1979a Early central Mexican architectural traits at Dzibilchaltun, Yucatan. Actes du XLII Congres International des Americanistes, Vol. VIII:237249.Google Scholar
Adovasio, J. M. 1979b Some comments on Puuc architecture of the northern Yucatan Peninsula. In The Puuc: new perspectives, edited by Mills, L., pp. 117. Central College Press, Pella, Iowa.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. W. V, and Andrews, A. P. 1975 A preliminary study of the ruins of Xcaret, Quintana Roo, Mexico with notes on other archaeology remains on the central east coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Middle American .Research Institute, Publication 40. Tulane University, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Ball, Joseph W. 1974 A coordinate approach to northern Maya Prehistory: A.D. 700-1200. American Antiquity 39:8593.Google Scholar
Andrews, E. W. V, and Andrews, A. P. 1977 The archaeological ceramics of Becan, Campeche, Mexico. Middle American Research Institute, Publication 43. Tulane University, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Adovasio, J. M. 1979a Ceramics, culture history, and the Puuc tradition: some alternative possibilities. In The Puuc: new perspectives, edited by Mills, L., pp. 1835. Central College Press, Pella, Iowa.Google Scholar
Adovasio, J. M. 1979b The 1977 Central College Symposium on Puuc archaeology: a summary view. In The Puuc: new perspectives, edited by Mills, L., pp. 4651. Central College Press, Pella, Iowa.Google Scholar
Becker, Marshall J. 1979 Theories of ancient Maya social structure: priests, peasants, and ceremonial centers in historical perspective. Katunob: Occasional Publication in Mesoamerican Anthropology No. 12.Google Scholar
Bernal, Ignacio, and Gamio, L. 1974 Yagul: el palacio de los seis patios. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, México.Google Scholar
Chowning, A. 1956 A round temple and its shrine at Mayapan. Carnegie Institution of Washington, D.C., Department of Anthropology, Current Reports 11:443461.Google Scholar
Cowgill, George L. 1964 The end of Classic Maya culture: a review of recent evidence. Southwestern Journal o/Anthropology 20:145159.Google Scholar
Fox, John A. 1980 Lowland to Highland mexicanization processes in southern Mesoamerica. American Antiquity 45:4354.Google Scholar
Freidel, David A. 1981 Continuity and disjunction: Late Postclassic settlement patterns in northern Yucatan. In Lowland Maya settlement patterns, edited by Ashmore, W., pp. 311332. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.Google Scholar
Gann, Thomas 1900 Mounds in northern Honduras. Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, Nineteenth Annual Report, 1897-1898, Part 2:661692. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Gann, Thomas 1918 The Maya Indians of southern Yucatan and northern British Honduras. Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin No. 64. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Gann, Thomas 1939 Glories of the Maya. Scribner's, London.Google Scholar
Gann, Thomas 1943 Painted stucco heads from Louisville, British Honduras. Middle American Research Records 1:1316.Google Scholar
Gann, Thomas, and Gann, M. 1939 Archaeological investigations in the Corozal district of British Honduras. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin No. 123:157. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Graham, John A. 1973 Aspects of Non-Classic presences in the inscriptions and sculptural art of Seibal. In The Classic Maya collapse, edited by Culbert, T. P., pp. 207217. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.Google Scholar
Haberland, W. 1958 An early mound at Louisville. British Honduras. Man 172:128129.Google Scholar
Hammond, Norman 1974 The distribution of Late Classic Maya major ceremonial centres in the central area. In Mesoamerican archaeology: new approaches, edited by Hammond, N., pp. 313334. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.Google Scholar
Hammond, Norman 1977 Ex Oriente Lux: a view from Belize. In The origins of Maya civilization, edited by Adams, R. E. W., pp. 4576. School of American Research, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.Google Scholar
Hammond, Norman (editor) 1973 British Museum—Cambridge University Corozal Project 1973 Interim Report. Centre of Latin American Studies, Cambridge University.Google Scholar
Hammond, Norman (editor) 1975 Archaeology in northern Belize, British Museum-Cambridge University Corozal Project 1974-1975 Interim Report. Centre of Latin American Studies, Cambridge University. and L. H. Feldman Google Scholar
Hammond, Norman, Pring, D., Wilk, R., Donaghey, S., Saul, F. P., Wing, E. S., Miller, A. V., 1979 The earliest Lowland Maya? Definition of the Swasey phase. American Antiquity 44:92110.Google Scholar
Harrison, Peter D. 1979 The Lobil Postclassic phase in the southern interior of the Yucatan Peninsula. In Mesoamerican archaeology and ethnohistory, edited by Hammond, N. and Willey, G., pp. 189207. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.Google Scholar
Heighway, C. 1973 Excavation of a Postclassic house: Structure 139, Nohmul. In Corozal Project 1973 Interim Report, edited by Hammond, N., pp. 4755. Centre of Latin American Studies, Cambridge University.Google Scholar
Heighway, C. Barry, I. 1975 Excavation of Structure 139. In Corozal Project 1974-1975 Interim fieport, edited by Hammond, N., pp. 1529. Centre of Latin American Studies, Cambridge University.Google Scholar
Lothrop, S. K. 1924 Tulum, an archaeological study of the east coast of Yucatan. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 335. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Marquina, I. 1951 Arquitectura Prehispanica. Memorias del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Vol. 1. México, D. F.Google Scholar
Mason, G. 1927 Silver cities of Yucatan. Putnam, New York.Google Scholar
Pollock, H. E. D. 1936 Bound structures of aboriginal Middle America. Carnegie Institution of Washington. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Pollock, H. E. D. 1952 Annual report of the director of the Department of Archaeology. Carnegie Institution of Washington Yearbook 51:235243.Google Scholar
Pollock, H. E. D. 1965 Architecture of the Maya Lowlands. Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited by Willey, G. R., pp. 378440. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.Google Scholar
Pring, Duncan 1975 Outline of northern Belize ceramic sequence. Cerámica de Cultura Maya 9:1152.Google Scholar
Proskouriakoff, Tatania 1946 An album of Maya architecture. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 558. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Proskouriakoff, Tatania 1950 A study of Classic Maya sculpture. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 593. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Proskouriakoff, Tatania 1951 Some Non-Classic traits in the sculpture of Yucatan. In The civilizations of ancient America, selected papers of the XXIX International Congress of Americanists, pp. 108118. Chicago, Illinois.Google Scholar
Rands, Robert L. 1954 Artistic connections between the Chichen Itza Toltec and the Classic Maya. American Antiquity 19: 281282.Google Scholar
Ruppert, Karl 1935 The Caracol at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Carnegie Institution of Washington. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Ruppert, Karl 1943 The mercado, Chichen Itza, Yucatan. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 546, Contribution 43. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Ruppert, Karl 1950 Gallery-patio type structures at Chichen Itza. In For the Dean: essays in anthropology in honor of Byron Cummings, pp. 249258. Hohokam Museums Association and the Southwestern Monuments Association, Tucson and Santa Fe.Google Scholar
Ruppert, Karl 1952 Chichen Itza: architectural notes and plans. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 595. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Ruppert, Karl, and Smith, A. L. 1955 Two new gallery patio type structures at Chichen Itza. In Notes on Middle American Archaeology , and Ethnology 5:5962. Carnegie Institution of Washington Department of Archaeology, No. 122. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A. 1973 Continuity and disruption during Terminal Late Classic times at Seibal: ceramic and other evidence. In The Classic Maya collapse, edited by Culbert, T. P., pp. 107131. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.Google Scholar
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and Willey, Gordon R. 1967 The collapse of Maya civilization in the Maya Lowlands: a consideration of history and process.p Southwestern Journal of Anthropology 23:311336.Google Scholar
Sanders, William 1960 Prehistoric ceramics and settlement patterns in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Contributions to American Anthropology and History 12(60). Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 606. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Satterthwaite, Linton 1936 An unusual type of building in the Maya old empire. Maya Research 3:6273.Google Scholar
Satterthwaite, Linton 1941 Some central Peten Maya architectural traits at Piedras Negras. In Los Mayas antiguos. El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico.Google Scholar
Satterthwaite, Linton 1943-1954 Piedras Negras archaeology: architecture. 6 parts. University Museum, Philadelphia, Penn.Google Scholar
Shook, Edward M. 1953 The X-Coton temples at Mayapan. Carnegie Institution of Washington Current Reports I(5):207221. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Shook, Edward M. 1954 Three temples and their associated structures at Mayapan. Carnegie Institution of Washington Current Reports I(14):254291. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Shook, Edward M. 1955 Another round temple at Mayapan. Carnegie Institution of Washington Current Reports 11(27): 267280. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Sidrys, Raymond V. 1976 Mesoamerica: an archaeological analysis of low-energy civilization. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
Sidrys, Raymond V., and Andresen, J. M. 1978 A second round structure from Northern Belize, Central America. Man (n.s.) 13:638650.Google Scholar
Sisson, E. B. 1973 The first annual report of the Coxcatlan Project. Robert Peabody, S. Foundation for Archaeology, Andover, Mass.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L. 1950 Uaxactun, Guatemala: excavations of 1931-1937. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 588. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, A. L. 1961 Types of ball courts in the highlands of Guatemala. In Essays in Precoiumbian art and archaeology, edited by Lothrop, S. K., pp. 100125. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Smith, Robert E. 1955 Ceramic sequence at Uaxactun, Guatemala. Middle American Research Institute, Publication 20. Tulane University, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Smith, Robert E. 1971 The pottery of Mayapan. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 66. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Smith, Robert E., and Gifford, James C. 1966 Maya ceramic varieties, types and wares at Uaxactun. In Supplement to Ceramic sequence at Uaxactun. Middle American Research Reports, Vol. 4:125174. Middle American Research Institute, Publication 28. Tulane University, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric, S. 1927 The civilization of the Mayas. Anthropology Leaflet No. 25, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric, S. 1939 Excavations at San Jose, British Honduras. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication No. 506. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. Eric, S. 1970 Maya history and religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Tozzer, A. M. 1957 Chichen Itza and its cenote of sacrifice: a comparative study of contemporaneous Maya and Toltec. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Vols. 11 and 12. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Willey, Gordon R. 1971 Commentary on: the emergence of civilization in the Maya Lowlands. In Observations on the emergence of civilization in Mesoamerica, edited by Heizer, R. and Graham, J.. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility No. 11:97111. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Willey, Gordon R., and Smith, A. L. 1966 Seibal 1966: third preliminary report. Paper on file in University Museum Library, Philadelphia, Penn.Google Scholar
Willey, Gordon R., Smith, A. L., Tourtellot, G. III, and Graham, I. 1975 Introduction: the site and its setting. Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala, edited by Willey, G. R.. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 13 (1 and 2). Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar