Ancient Maya settlement and the Alacranes Bajo : landscape and communities in the Three Rivers Region
This thesis represents the archaeological investigation of a distinctive zone of the Three Rivers Region (TRR) of far northwestern Belize. The zone is dominated by the Alacranes Bajo, a seasonally inundated karstic depression bordered by the settlements of Nojol Nah and Tulix Mul. Understanding the relationship of the settlements to the bajo and to the wider political landscape of the TRR makes an important contribution to our knowledge of land use by the ancient Maya. My research seeks to discover whether the settlements on the eastern edge of the Alacranes Bajo could be described as bajo-centric. That is, were they specifically located with the purpose of utilising the bajoâs resources? Or, do the settlements fit a wider pattern characteristic of the TRR in areas without bajos? To address these questions, excavations were undertaken of households, monumental structures, and selected landscape features associated with Nojol Nah and Tulix Mul. The results of the excavations--chronology of settlement, status of occupants, nature of local and regional economy as well as analyses of burials and artefacts--are described and assessed within the local, regional and inter-regional context.
Hammond, G. A.
Ancient Maya settlement and the Alacranes Bajo : landscape and communities in the Three Rivers Region. This thesis represents the archaeological investigation of a distinctive zone of the Three Rivers Region (TRR) of far northwestern Belize. The zone is dominated by the Alacranes Bajo, a seasonally inundated karstic depression bordered by the settlements of Nojol Nah and Tulix Mul. Understanding the relationship of the settlements to the bajo and to the wider political landscape of the TRR makes an important contribution to our knowledge of land use by the ancient Maya. My research seeks to discover whether the settlements on the eastern edge of the Alacranes Bajo could be described as bajo-centric. That is, were they specifically located with the purpose of utilising the bajoâs resources? Or, do the settlements fit a wider pattern characteristic of the TRR in areas without bajos? To address these questions, excavations were undertaken of households, monumental structures, and selected landscape features associated with Nojol Nah and Tulix Mul. The results of the excavations--chronology of settlement, status of occupants, nature of local and regional economy as well as analyses of burials and artefacts--are described and assessed within the local, regional and inter-regional context.
ancient_maya settlement landscape community region represent archaeological_investigation distinctive zone region far northwestern belize zone dominate seasonally depression border settlement relationship settlement wider political_landscape make_important knowledge land_use ancient_maya seek_discover whether settlement eastern edge could describe centric specifically locate purpose utilise resource settlement fit wider pattern characteristic area without address_question excavation undertake household monumental structure select landscape_feature associate excavation chronology settlement status occupant nature local_regional economy well analyse burial artefact describe assessed within local_regional inter_regional context