THE CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH ON ANCIENT MAYA ROCKSHELTER USE IN CENTRAL BELIZE

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Publication Date

2017

Publication Title

Research Reports in Belizean Archaeology

Volume Number

14

Abstract

Most investigations of subterranean contexts in the Maya area have focused on deep cave environments, particularly those of alarger size. However, smaller caves and rockshelters were also heavily utilized by the ancient Maya. This paper focuses on aliterature review of the second of these contexts, bolstered and broadened by primary research conducted under the auspices ofthe Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance project, the Western Belize Regional Cave Project, and most recently, by theCentral Belize Archaeological Survey project. In particular, through this paper we seek to contextualize the highly variableassemblages of several rockshelters with respect to both temporal and regional patterns of cave use and to discuss the mortuarycontext of rockshelter use in the region. We note that rockshelter use was characterized by diversity in both intensity and natureover time. Predictably, these changes are likely linked to the social, economic, and political developments of the nearbycommunities using them.

Document Type

Article

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