DR. LESLIE SHAW Colleague and Friend
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This volume is dedicated to the memory of: DR. LESLIE SHAW Colleague and Friend Artist’s rendering of Upper Façade from Str. 3 at La Milpa, Belize. (Illustration by Debora Trein, 2012). RESEARCH REPORTS FROM THE PROGRAMME FOR BELIZE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT, VOLUME SEVEN Edited by: Grant Aylesworth Mesoamerican Archaeological Research Laboratory And Fred Valdez, Jr. The University of Texas at Austin Formatted by: David M. Hyde Western State Colorado University Contributors Grant Aylesworth Nicole DeFrancisco Yoav Me-Bar Walter Beckwith Robyn L. Dodge Leslie C. Shaw Michael L. Brennan Stacy Drake Cory Stevenson Jeff Brewer Scott Guzman Michael Stowe Nicholas Brokaw Eric J. Heller Rissa M. Trachman Jacob A. Canterbury David M. Hyde Debora Trein David Chatelain Eleanor M. King Fred Valdez, Jr. Leon de Santillana Brandon S. Lewis Stanley Walling Occasional Papers, Number 15 Mesoamerican Archaeological Research Laboratory The University of Texas at Austin 2013 Contents Background and Introduction to the 2012 Season of the Programme for Belize Archaeological Project Fred Valdez, Jr. and Grant Aylesworth................................................................1 The Architecture and Environs of Structure 3: 2012 Season Debora Trein........................................................................................................7 Report of the 2012 Excavations at the South Ballcourt of La Milpa, Operation A6 David Chatelain .................................................................................................35 Overview of the 2012 La Milpa Archaeological Field Season Brandon s. Lewis, Yoav Me-Bar, Scott Guzman, and Leon de Santillan............39 Several Burials from La Milpa, LM4 in NW Belize Stacy Drake ........................................................................................................55 Report in the 2012 Excavations at Hun Tun: Operation 5 Robyn L. Dodge..................................................................................................59 Research Results of the 2012 Field Season: Excavations at the Tapir Group of the Medicinal Trail Site David M. Hyde ...................................................................................................67 Mapping Medicinal Trail: A Summary from 2004 to 2012 Jeff Brewer, David M. Hyde, and Michael Stowe...............................................91 The 2012 Season of Survey and Excavation at La Milpa North Eric J. Heller....................................................................................................113 Preliminary Investigations at RB 71: The 2012 Field Season Nicole DeFrancisco and Cory Stevenson.........................................................131 Preliminary Report on the 2012 Field Season at Maax Na and Bolsa Verde, Belize Eleanor M. King and Leslie C. Shaw ...............................................................141 Summary Report of Field Investigations at the Site of Dos Hombres, Summer 2012 Season Rissa M. Trachman and Jacob A. Canterbury .................................................155 i Field Investigations at Chawak But’o’ob: Preliminary Overview of the 2012 Season Stan Walling.....................................................................................................165 Ancient Maya Land Use and Today’s Environment: A Multidisciplinary Research Program Nicholas Brokaw ..............................................................................................179 Summary Report of the 2012 Obsidian Provenance Project for PfBAP Walter Beckwith ...............................................................................................187 Application of Low-Field Magnetic Susceptibility to Plaster Floors in Excavation Profiles at Maya Sites in the Three Rivers Region, Belize Michael Brennan..............................................................................................189 ii BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION TO THE 2012 SEASON OF THE PROGRAMME FOR BELIZE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT* Fred Valdez, Jr., The University of Texas at Austin Grant Aylesworth, Mesoamerican Archaeological Research Lab., UT-Austin INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (RBCMA) in NW Belize serves as the research region for the The Programme for Belize Archaeological Project (PfBAP; see Figure 1). The property is owned and managed by Programme for Belize and the holdings currently stand at 260,000 acres. The PfBAP has been involved in yearly research on the RBCMA since 1992 and maintained a summer program since 1994. Research produced by the PfBAP has included pre-Maya data extending back into the Paleoindian and Archaic Periods (Figure 2) as well as post-Maya historic activities. Although the historic period findings may include Maya populations, the post-Maya reference here refers to the presence of non-Maya materials. The most significant PfBAP research, however, has focused on Maya society beginning ca. 1000 BC and until European contact. Although much of the PfBAP research has been site-specific, the property of the RBCMA has provided a great opportunity to pursue a regional research interest. Investigations at specific sites such as La Milpa and Dos Hombres represent large site interests while the PfBAP is adding to the prehistoric reconstruction through many small site investigations as well as transect surveys and mapping. The PfBAP, through extensive and continuing research, intends to provide a regional perspective concerning the interaction between large sites, small settlements, and the myriad of features that connect them all. RESEARCH METHODS (Research Design) While the PfBAP has several significant goals as a regionally- focused research project, a couple are highlighted here from this season’s studies. Valuable interests include: 1) defining regional patterns of cultural development and decline (and/or fluctuations); and 2) defining major research interests/problems concerning ancient Maya Civilization (and Maya archaeology). We believe that Maya archaeology may help understand certain processual and cultural- historical questions about the prehistoric Maya. The regional approach of the PfBAP is viable in that it allows us to see the prehistoric Maya from its urban centers to the supporting villages and structures. Our approach may provide a more comprehensive view of how Maya Civilization may have operated in both positive and troubled venues. 1 Valdez and Aylesworth Figure 1. Map of PfBAP Research Area. The PfBAP serves as an umbrella organization for many research interests. Each "independent" project or research interest may have a particular research/theoretical agenda, but one that articulates with the broader goals of the PfBAP. The papers contributed to this volume are among the many perspectives and interests about ancient Maya life. REVIEW OF THE 2012 INVESTIGATIONS The research reports compiled in this volume are from colleagues operating under the PfBAP as well as graduate student dissertation research. This introductory chapter is a 2 Background and Introduction quick summary/comment to contextualize the volume. The archaeological research herein reported was completed under a permit issued by the Institute of Archaeology, NICH, in Belmopan, Belize. Figure 2. Archaic Points. Illustrations by Margaret Greco. The kinds of research investigations under the PfBAP in the 2012 season was broad, from large sites studies to the most modest of remains. In the La Milpa "realm" area were investigations at the site center as well as areas often referred to as support settlements. From the La Milpa site center are investigations reported by Trein at Structure 3; Lewis and others at several residential groups east and west of the South Acropolis; Chatelain at the South Ballcourt; and Drake's study of burials from LM-4. A general map of La Milpa is provided in Figure 3. What we term support locations are medium to small sites within the La Milpa "influence" such as Dodge’s research at the Hun Tun site; DeFrancisco and Stevenson report on a new endeavor within the La Milpa sphere; La Milpa North investigations are delivered by Heller; and Hyde’s continued research at the Medicinal Trail site includes a second contribution on mapping efforts. 3 Valdez and Aylesworth Studies within the RBCMA and by the PfBAP, but outside the recognized La Milpa Realm include: Trachman's research at Dos Hombres; and Walling’s research along the Rio Bravo escarpment. Special studies continue as part of the PfBAP are included in this volume such as a collaborative effort that includes trees and soils as part of archaeological research. This latter concern is reported by Brokaw and company. A summary paper concerning obsidian sourcing is provided by Beckwith. Figure 3. Plan of the site core of La Milpa. After Hammond and Tourtellot 1993, with notes from Trein. 4 Background and Introduction OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE PfBAP Continuing activities this season include the PfBAP active in providing guest talks for visiting groups to the La Milpa Education center next to the project’s camp facility. Guests attending the talks/lectures about the PfBAP/Maya studies are often foreign (teacher and/or student) groups visiting Belize and at times local high school groups from Orange Walk and Belize City. Public outreach remains a significant activity of the PfBAP providing access to our lab and field endeavors to the Mennonite Community and to the workmen and their families (most from San Felipe). Access here specifically means "knowledge about" and the opportunity to see