Classic Maya archaeology Research Papers (original) (raw)

Maya blue is a turquoise paint used by the ancient Maya for pottery, murals, sculpture and for covering human victims before they were sacrificed. In the 1960s, its composition was identified as indigo and the clay mineral palygorskite.... more

Maya blue is a turquoise paint used by the ancient Maya for pottery, murals, sculpture and for covering human victims before they were sacrificed. In the 1960s, its composition was identified as indigo and the clay mineral palygorskite. The resistance of Maya Blue to acids, solvents and other reagents, and its persistent color over centuries in one of the world’s harshest climates has captured the attention of many scholars. Since the 1960s, however, the cultural context of the constituents of the paint, the cultural significance of the pigment, and the discovery of how the Maya made the pigment have been possible because of the collaboration of anthropologists with those who have expertise in the physical sciences. This collaboration was also responsible for the discovery of palygorskite in Yucatan in 1965, its cultural significance among the contemporary Maya, and for identifying the way in which the ancient Maya made the Maya Blue. This paper presents the preliminary results of the analyses of palygorskite samples recently obtained in Yucatán and underscores the importance of collaborative research between anthropologists and physical scientists for find a source for the ancient palygorskite that was used in the production of Maya Blue. Research on Maya Blue also raises questions of intellectual properly rights: Who owns the rights to make Maya Blue for economic gain, and who should benefit from a sale of a synthetic Maya Blue for modern commercial purposes? (Files for text and power point are attached below)

Understanding the ways in which human communities define themselves in relation to landscape has been one of the crucial research questions in anthropology. My dissertation project explores Classic Maya political landscapes and seeks to... more

Understanding the ways in which human communities define themselves in relation to landscape has been one of the crucial research questions in anthropology. My dissertation project explores Classic Maya political landscapes and seeks to understand the relation between place and identity in the written discourse. In addition, it establishes links between a text-based approach to Classic Maya political landscapes and the archaeological record. The findings of my research are based on two data sets: the data base of place names in Classic Maya inscriptions that incorporates full textual contexts of every toponym and the results of my archaeological and epigraphic fieldwork at the site of La Sufricaya, El Petén, Guatemala.
Classic Maya political landscapes did not involve representations of territories. Most Classic Maya toponyms indexed discrete objects in space associated with the ch'e'n category indicating that these places were the dwellings of gods and ancestors. Classic Maya royal families were usually related to one or more ch'e'n place names – current locations of royal courts, but also places of origins in deep time. The underlying narratives and identities set some royal families apart and united others.
Many Classic Maya rulers were members of several geopolitical groups associated with specific geographical areas and political networks. Thirteen Divisions, Seven Divisions, and Twenty-eight Lords were the most widely mentioned collectivities. These groups constituted a kind of macro-regional landscape, but a landscape of social and not spatial entities.
Classic Maya inscriptions and images suggest that public ceremonies were the events where members of geopolitical communities were involved, when political identities were performed, experienced, and reiterated. The case of La Sufricaya reveals how these practices structured the spatial organization and the construction sequence of an emerging palace complex. Archaeological evidence at La Sufricaya points to the high level of interconnectedness between members of Classic Maya political landscapes. It also reveals that, in the absence of an established local community, the long-term success of a new political center largely depended on its geopolitical network.

The Midnight Terror Cave faunal assemblage is unusual in that fish make up 21% of the vertebrate fauna, including four individual parrotfish (Sparisoma viride). This analysis examines why this species was selected and explores a... more

The Midnight Terror Cave faunal assemblage is unusual in that fish make up 21% of the vertebrate fauna, including four individual parrotfish (Sparisoma viride). This analysis examines why this species was selected and explores a performative interpretation that contextualizes these remains within ancient Maya ritual drama. In addition to being part of the “cult of the sea”, the parrotfish was selected because of its blue or green color which symbolizes water, rain, and abundance. The fish’s color fades quickly after death so it is clear that the fish had to be transported alive from the sea coast to the cave. The requirements for the trip are outlined. The analysis lays out the expenditures made for elite ritual and provides a glimpse into the drama of such sacrifices.

We consider how a feminist perspective permits appreciation for and reflection on the complex and often understated ways in which Classic‐era (∼CE 250‐80) royal Maya women contributed to processes of statecraft. Our work centers on... more

We consider how a feminist perspective permits appreciation for and reflection on the complex and often understated ways in which Classic‐era (∼CE 250‐80) royal Maya women contributed to processes of statecraft. Our work centers on archaeological and epigraphic evidence for the life of one important royal woman, Ix Kaloomte’ K'abel of Waka’ whose reign was one of the most influential of the Late Classic Period (∼CE 550‐800). In reviewing the lines of evidence which detail her political life as a ruler, we consider parallels with other important royal women of the period. We argue a feminist approach permits working beyond unacknowledged presentist biases to consider the ways in which these women actively crafted state politics alongside their male counterparts.

This paper discusses folk classification of beverages according to the dedicatory inscriptions on Classic Maya vessels with an emphasis on “mixed drinks.” Combining epigraphic and ethno-historic data, the authors propose new... more

This paper discusses folk classification of beverages according to the dedicatory inscriptions on Classic Maya vessels with an emphasis on “mixed drinks.” Combining epigraphic and ethno-historic data, the authors propose new interpretations of the terms like yutal kakaw, which have been discussed by other scholars. Several previously unknown flavors of chocolate- and atole-based mixed beverages are identified. The list of preferred Classic Maya elite drink recipes is compared and contrasted with folk classifications of beverages in Colonial and modern Maya communities. This comparison allows us to address important questions about the role of certain drinks in the fabric of the Classic Maya courtly life.

Madres, esposas, cortesanas o reinas, las mujeres de la elite maya del periodo Clasico Tardio (600-900) estuvieron inmersas dentro de un complejo sistema politico. Fue tal su importancia que algunos reyes mayas basaron su legitimidad por... more

Madres, esposas, cortesanas o reinas, las mujeres de la elite maya del periodo Clasico Tardio (600-900) estuvieron inmersas dentro de un complejo sistema politico. Fue tal su importancia que algunos reyes mayas basaron su legitimidad por la via materna. Otros, en compania de sus conyuges, realizaron rituales con el fin de obtener la proteccion de los ancestros. Es cierto que, en comparacion con las representaciones de los varones, pocas son las apariciones de mujeres entre los mayas; sin embargo, los datos epigraficos dan cuenta de su importancia como legitimadoras, pues texto e imagen se complementan para mostrarnos los roles que desempenaban dentro de la elite maya del Clasico.

Maya Blue is an unusual blue pigment used on pottery, sculpture, and murals from the Preclassic to the Colonial period. Until the ate 1960s, its composition was unknown, but chemists working in Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and the United... more

Maya Blue is an unusual blue pigment used on pottery, sculpture, and murals from the Preclassic to the Colonial period. Until the ate 1960s, its composition was unknown, but chemists working in Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and the United States identified Maya Blue as a combination of indigo and the unusual clay mineral palygorskite (also called attapulgite). A source of palygorskite in the Maya area was unknown for years; then ethnoarchaeological research in the mid-1960s demonstrated that the contemporary Maya recognized the unique physical properties of palygorskite and used it as an additive for pottery temper and for curing certain types of illnesses. Because of its importance in Maya Blue, pre-Hispanic sources of the mineral were then suggested based on ethnoarchaeological data. One of these sources was the cenote in the town of Sacalum, Yucatan. This paper briefly reviews the history of the Maya Blue research from an anthropological perspective and presents evidence of a second possible pre-Hispanic mining site for palygorskite at Yo’ Sah Kab near Ticul, Yucatan. Archaeological and technological approaches have demonstrated the use, distribution, composition, and characteristics of Maya Blue, but ethnoarchaeology has related it to Maya language and culture and to possible pre-Hispanic sources of one of its constituents, palygorskite.

Stingray spine use in Maya human bloodletting rituals has long been an accepted phenomenon. Recent work has suggested that intact spines may have been used and that the symptoms resulting from envenomation were an important part of the... more

Stingray spine use in Maya human bloodletting rituals has long been an accepted phenomenon. Recent work has suggested that intact spines may have been used and that the symptoms resulting from envenomation were an important part of the bloodletting ritual. Zoological and medical research, however, indicate that stingray toxins pose a more serious threat to human health than mere pain and inflammation. Medical studies conducted to track injuries resulting from stingray attacks report that some two-thirds of all cases result in tissue necrosis. Reconciling the use of stingray spines by the Maya with the physiological effects they present is crucial if we are to understand how the Maya viewed toxic marine materials and why they incorporated them in their ritual behaviors. Correlations between political events and stingray spine use may hold the key for understanding how these objects were articulated into the larger social and political sphere. We provide a discussion of the effects of...

El concepto de la Montaña Sagrada fue muy importante para las sociedades mesoamericanas y de otras culturas del mundo. Diversos estudios demuestran que en él se conjugaron ideas sobre los ancestros, la abundancia, la riqueza, el... more

El concepto de la Montaña Sagrada fue muy importante para las sociedades mesoamericanas y de otras culturas del mundo. Diversos estudios demuestran que en él se conjugaron ideas sobre los ancestros, la abundancia, la riqueza, el territorio y el poder. Entre los mayas prehispánicos y los actuales esto no fue la excepción. En el presente trabajo se aborda este concepto y sus formas de representación gráfica y se propone que fue uno de los símbolos de poder más importantes dentro del aparato de legitimación del ajaw. Los mascarones zoomorfos witz, tanto en pintura como en escultura, fueron utilizados como medios para expresar la relación entre el gobernante maya, la Montaña Sagrada, los ancestros, el territorio y todas las riquezas que en ella se resguardan.

In ancient Maya cities, "E Groups" are sets of buildings aligned with the movements of the sun. This volume presents new archaeological data to reveal that E Groups were constructed earlier than previously thought. In... more

In ancient Maya cities, "E Groups" are sets of buildings aligned with the movements of the sun. This volume presents new archaeological data to reveal that E Groups were constructed earlier than previously thought. In fact, they are the earliest identifiable architectural plan at many Maya settlements. More than just astronomical observatories or calendars, E Groups were gathering places for emerging communities and centers of ritual--the very first civic-religious public architecture in the Maya lowlands. Investigating a wide variety of E Group sites in different contexts, this volume pieces together the development of social and political complexity in the ancient Maya civilization.

Maya Blue is an unusual blue pigment consisting of a clay-organic complex of indigo and the unusual clay mineral palygorskite (also called attapulgite). Used on pottery, sculpture, and murals from the Preclassic to Late Colonial periods... more

Maya Blue is an unusual blue pigment consisting of a clay-organic complex of indigo and the unusual clay mineral palygorskite (also called attapulgite). Used on pottery, sculpture, and murals from the Preclassic to Late Colonial periods largely in Mesoamerica, blue was the color of sacrifice and ritual. Did the palygorskite used to make Maya Blue come from a restricted source in Yucatán like Shepard, Arnold, Arnold and Bohor believed, or from widespread sources like Littmann argued? This report presents the results of a pilot study comparing INAA and LA-ICP-MS analysis of 33 palygorskite samples collected from different parts of the Maya area. These data reveal that it is possible to discriminate mineral source locations, and that it should be possible to determine whether the palygorskite used to make Maya Blue came from widespread sources or was traded widely from one or a few sources. Consideration of contextual information such as agency, landscape and language suggest that the ...

Despite the success of lidar in making ancient features visible in certain tropical environments, researchers often have difficulty using lidar to identify small, low, non-linear features. This study juxtaposes lidar data with data... more

Despite the success of lidar in making ancient features visible in certain tropical environments, researchers often have difficulty using lidar to identify small, low, non-linear features. This study juxtaposes lidar data with data gathered from pedestrian survey along the Ucí-Cansahcab causeway, located in the Northern Maya lowlands, to assess the degree to which the invisibility of small buildings in lidar imagery affects demographic research. The juxtaposition shows that demographic research with lidar can move forward in some cases once pedestrian survey has been used as a baseline to establish correction factors for using lidar data on their own. Another current barrier to the use of lidar is cost. This paper provides examples of the kinds of questions that can be addressed by projects with smaller budgets and, therefore, smaller amounts of lidar coverage. These questions include site size comparisons and the degree to which settlement clustered around ancient features such as ...

This thesis develops a comparative methodology and research practice enabling the interpretive social study of urban built environments (cross-culturally and diachronically). Its contribution to comparative urbanism is framed specifically... more

This thesis develops a comparative methodology and research practice enabling the interpretive social study of urban built environments (cross-culturally and diachronically). Its contribution to comparative urbanism is framed specifically as a method for studying the socio-spatial significance of the material presence of the composition of urban form (conceptualised as boundaries) to the interactional process of human inhabitation. This perspective results from formulating a theoretical and conceptual rejoinder to questioning the nature of the role of the built environment as emergent from the human process of inhabiting the world and the functioning of urban life and development. On that basis an empirically operational method (Boundary Line Type (BLT) mapping) for the conceptual remapping and analysis of ground level spatial data on the urban built environment (city plans) is devised, so the comparative socio-spatial study of cities from this perspective through time and across ge...

Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collections do not represent well the ancient living population, are poorly preserved, and lead to flawed age-at-death estimations. The skeletal... more

Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collections do not represent well the ancient living population, are poorly preserved, and lead to flawed age-at-death estimations. The skeletal collection of Xcambó, however, is suitable for paleodemographic analysis and is large enough to enable comparison of paleodemographic trends between the Early (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750) periods. Three demographic simulations were generated; two relied on growth rates calculated from the site's previous archaeodemographic data, and a third simulation was based on a stationary scenario by applying Weiss's (1973) and Séguy and Buchet's (2013) models. All simulations indicate that Xcambó’s Late Classic population was growing faster than its Early Classic peers, with higher rates of survivorship and more severe mortality rates. We argue that the differences are more likely due to shifts in lifestyle and wealth than to environmenta...

The Mayan arithmetical model of astronomy is described. The astronomical origin of the Mayan Calendar (the 260-day Tzolk'in, the 365-day Haab', the 3276-day Kawil-direction-color cycle and the 1872000-day Long Count Calendar) is... more

The Mayan arithmetical model of astronomy is described. The astronomical origin of the Mayan Calendar (the 260-day Tzolk'in, the 365-day Haab', the 3276-day Kawil-direction-color cycle and the 1872000-day Long Count Calendar) is demonstrated and the position of the Calendar Round at the mythical date of creation 13(0).0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumku is calculated. The results are expressed as a function of the Xultun numbers, four enigmatic Long Count numbers deciphered in the Maya ruins of Xultun, dating from the IX century CE. [Saturno et al., Science 336, 714 (2012)] Evidence shows that this model was used in the Maya Classic period (200 to 900 CE) to determine the Palenque lunar equation. This provides evidence of the high proficiency of Mayan naked-eye astronomy and mathematics.

In the Río Bec region, archaeological, iconographic and epigraphic data indicate that kingship has been weakly articulated from AD 550 to 950. Sub-royal elites were active, creating highly visible houses with land domains that served... more

In the Río Bec region, archaeological, iconographic and epigraphic data indicate that kingship has been weakly articulated from AD 550 to 950. Sub-royal elites were active, creating highly visible houses with land domains that served factional strategies and, late in time, diffused architectural ideas over a wide area. The picture is one of a highly fragmented society consisting of many economically autonomous agents, each pursuing corporate interests that combined intensive staple production and auto-construction of stable residences on their land, with minimal insertion in craft production and regional exchanges.

This study uses a multiisotope (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium) approach to examine early animal management in the Maya region. An analysis of faunal specimens across almost 2,000 years (1000 BC to AD 950) at the site of Ceibal,... more

This study uses a multiisotope (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium) approach to examine early animal management in the Maya region. An analysis of faunal specimens across almost 2,000 years (1000 BC to AD 950) at the site of Ceibal, Guatemala, reveals the earliest evidence for live-traded dogs and possible captive-reared taxa in the Americas. These animals may have been procured for ceremonial functions based on their location in the monumental site core, suggesting that animal management and trade began in the Maya area to promote special events, activities that were critical in the development of state society. Isotopic evidence for animal captivity at Ceibal reveals that animal management played a greater role in Maya communities than previously believed.

Maya and Climate Climate has affected the vitality of many different societies in the past, as shown by numerous records across the globe and throughout human history. One of the most obvious and spectacular examples of this is from the... more

Maya and Climate Climate has affected the vitality of many different societies in the past, as shown by numerous records across the globe and throughout human history. One of the most obvious and spectacular examples of this is from the Classic Maya civilization, whose advanced culture left highly detailed records of all aspects of their existence between 300 and 1000 C.E. Kennett et al. (p. 788 ; see the cover) present a detailed climate record derived from a stalagmite collected from a cave in Belize, in the midst of the Classic Maya settlement. The fine resolution and precise dating of the record allows changes in precipitation to be related to the politics, war, and population fluctuations of the Mayans.

Recent years have seen the evidence from Western Belizean sites—especially Buenavista, Cahal Pech, Caracol, Cuychen, and Xunantunich—beginning to contribute substantially to scholarly understandings of the hegemonic networks underlying... more

Recent years have seen the evidence from Western Belizean sites—especially Buenavista, Cahal Pech, Caracol, Cuychen, and Xunantunich—beginning to contribute substantially to scholarly understandings of the hegemonic networks underlying Classic Maya politics. Particularly illuminating are a series of seventh-century monuments commissioned by Caracol's king K'an II, which chronicle his polity's shifting fortunes as a client kingdom. While his own father was placed on the throne of Caracol by Wak Chan K'awiil of Tikal in 553 C.E., K'an II reports the dissolution of that relationship in the wake of the Snake kingdom's military defeat of Tikal in 562, as well as his own accession under the supervision of the Snake king Yuhknoom Ti' Chan in 619. At least two kings of nearby Naranjo were also placed on their thrones by Snake kings, in 546 and again in 693. Recent archaeological and epigraphic discoveries at Buenavista reveal it to have been the victim of warfare in 696 at the hands of the second of these Snake kingdom clients: K'ahk' Tiliw Chan Chahk. These discoveries join earlier evidence suggesting an invasively hegemonic Snake kingdom presence in Western Belize and the Eastern Petén during much of the sixth through eighth centuries.

La referencia solar de la estructura 1-sub o templo de las siete muñecas en Dzibilchaltún a cargo de los arqueólogos Víctor Segovia, José Huchim e Ivan Sprajc, en donde nos señalan eventos tales como los equinoccios, los solsticios, y una... more

La referencia solar de la estructura 1-sub o templo de las siete muñecas en Dzibilchaltún a cargo de los arqueólogos Víctor Segovia, José Huchim e Ivan Sprajc, en donde nos señalan eventos tales como los equinoccios, los solsticios, y una referencia con la estructura 66 en donde se observar como el sol se oculta sobre aquella estructura el día del paso del Sol por el Cenit del lugar, pero en este último evento mencionado, existe otra posible referencia directa en la estructura 1-sub.

Ubicado en el municipio de Hopelchén, próximo a sitios como Huntichmul, Chunhuaymil, Sayil y Labná, Sabana Piletas representa uno de los hallazgos arqueológicos más importantes de los últimos años en Campeche. Su relevancia deriva de la... more

Ubicado en el municipio de Hopelchén, próximo a sitios como Huntichmul, Chunhuaymil, Sayil y Labná, Sabana Piletas representa uno de los hallazgos arqueológicos más importantes de los últimos años en Campeche. Su relevancia deriva de la concentración y magnitud considerables de su asentamiento, así como de la presencia de la Escalinata Jeroglífica 1, que constituye hoy en día el texto más extenso descubierto en el norte de la península de Yucatán.

Airborne LiDAR produced large amounts of data for archaeological research over the past decade. Labeling this type of archaeological data is a tedious process. We used a data set from Pacunam LiDAR Initiative survey of lowland Maya region... more

Airborne LiDAR produced large amounts of data for archaeological research over the past decade. Labeling this type of archaeological data is a tedious process. We used a data set from Pacunam LiDAR Initiative survey of lowland Maya region in Guatemala. The data set contains ancient Maya structures that were manually labeled, and ground verified to a large extent. We have built and compared two deep learning-based models, U-Net and Mask R-CNN, for semantic segmentation. The segmentation models were used in two tasks: identification of areas of ancient construction activity, and identification of the remnants of ancient Maya buildings. The U-Net based model performed better in both tasks and was capable of correctly identifying 60–66% of all objects, and 74–81% of medium sized objects. The quality of the resulting prediction was evaluated using a variety of quantifiers. Furthermore, we discuss the problems of re-purposing the archaeological style labeling for production of valid machi...

The present investigation aims at contributing to the ongoing discussion on the unconfirmed identity of the Red Queen, a Classic Maya dignitary discovered in Temple XIII at Palenque, Mexico, by comparing her reconstructed facial profile... more

The present investigation aims at contributing to the ongoing discussion on the unconfirmed identity of the Red Queen, a Classic Maya dignitary discovered in Temple XIII at Palenque, Mexico, by comparing her reconstructed facial profile to the portraiture of known female personages from the site. The comparison rests upon individual cranial features, like buccal prognatism, nasal root and inclination, chin prominence and the artificially shaped forehead. The similarities between the reconstruction, the female's funerary mask and local portraiture appear to identify the Red Queen as Lady Ix Tz'akb'u Ajaw (Ahpo Hel), the wife of Janaab' Pakal, one of the famous Maya rulers of the Classic Period. The proposed match and her family relationship with the king might explain the spatial closeness of their burial places in the Temple of the Inscriptions and Temple XIII.

International audience"At the end of the first field season (April-May 2010), and after completing the analysis of data and materials recollected, we were able to define three main lines of investigation for the next four years. The... more

International audience"At the end of the first field season (April-May 2010), and after completing the analysis of data and materials recollected, we were able to define three main lines of investigation for the next four years. The first topic deals with the study of the processes that led to the constitution of an agglomeration in Group B of no less than 38 residential patios dating from the Late and Terminal Classic periods. Another theme of research is the understanding of stability or changing trough time of seat of power. But here, we will expose the third line of investigation related to economy: all materials recovered during the first two field seasons clearly indicate that Naachtun had access during a long time to a large quantity and variety of goods andproducts, and this is significant when we try to understand the different aspects of the economy of this major Center. Which roots can we identify to explain the prosperity of the site?" (source éditeur)Voir le l...

This article explores the anthropological goals of domesticating (through naming, categorizing, organizing) and liberating (through engagement with dynamism, process, complexity, contradiction) our data and the ways we consider culture.... more

This article explores the anthropological goals of domesticating (through naming, categorizing, organizing) and liberating (through engagement with dynamism, process, complexity, contradiction) our data and the ways we consider culture. These complementary themes emerge in three volumes that explore Maya culture, past and present. The first theme offers powerful results by making named things real and valued. The second theme recognizes the multiple, contingent processes connected to people and cultures, with important ramifications for the use of cultural analogy over time. The two perspectives differ in how we relate to our data, and result in different ways of envisioning the Maya.

La referencia solar de la estructura 1-sub o templo de las siete muñecas en Dzibilchaltún a cargo de los arqueólogos Víctor Segovia, José Huchim e Ivan Sprajc, en donde nos señalan eventos tales como los equinoccios, los solsticios, y una... more

La referencia solar de la estructura 1-sub o templo de las siete muñecas en Dzibilchaltún a cargo de los arqueólogos Víctor Segovia, José Huchim e Ivan Sprajc, en donde nos señalan eventos tales como los equinoccios, los solsticios, y una referencia con la estructura 66 en donde se observar como el sol se oculta sobre aquella estructura el día del paso del Sol por el Cenit del lugar, pero en este último evento mencionado, existe otra posible referencia directa en la estructura 1-sub.

Insects and arthropods appear in the Maya art in a rich and diverse context, suggesting their prominent significance in the culture. In the following chapters I present my research concerning the appearance of the centipede, one of the... more

Insects and arthropods appear in the Maya art in a rich and diverse context, suggesting their prominent significance in the culture. In the following chapters I present my research concerning the appearance of the centipede, one of the arthropods most commonly represented in the Maya iconography. I studied depictions of the centipede in the art of the Classic Period (250 A.D. - 909 A.D) and compared them with epigraphical and ethnohistorical sources in order to define the specific symbolic meaning of this animal in all contexts of its occurrence. My research focused on the centipede as part of the vision serpent complex, its connections to the Palenque triad, Sun God K’inich Ajaw and Bolon Yokte K’uh. In the conclusion, I try to establish the significance of the centipede as the animal of transition, more specifically the transition between night and day and the Underworld and our world.