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A Multimethod Approach to the Study of Classic Maya Houselots and Land Tenure: Preliminary Results from the Three Rivers Region, Belize

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A Multimethod Approach to the Study of Classic Maya Houselots and Land Tenure: Preliminary Results from the Three Rivers Region, Belize Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 38 (2021) 103049 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jasrep A multimethod approach to the study of Classic Maya houselots and land tenure: Preliminary results from the Three Rivers Region, Belize Joshua J. Kwoka a,*, Thomas H. Guderjan b, Sara Eshleman c, Thomas Ruhl d, Justin Telepak e, Timothy Beach c, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach c, Will McClatchey f, Grace Bascop´e g a Georgia State University, Department of Anthropology, Sparks Hall, 33 Gilmer Street, Suite 335, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA b University of Texas at Tyler, Department of Social Sciences, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799, USA c University of Texas at Austin, Department of Geography and the Environment, 305 E. 23rd St., A3100, RLP 3.306, Austin, TX 78712, USA d University of Cincinnati, Department of Geography, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, PO Box 210131, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0131, USA e Maya Research Program, 1910 East Southeast Loop 323 #296, Tyler, TX 75701, USA f Woodland Valley Meadows Farm/Oregon State University, College of Pharmacy, 1601 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA g Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76107-3400, USA ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Results of a recent lidar survey of northwestern Belize revealed a heavily modified anthropogenic landscape Boundaries populated by dense ancient Maya settlement. Most surprising was the detection of an extensive network of Classic Period Maya landesque capital in form of linear stone features, with 87.8 linear km identified to date. While likely multi- Houselots functional, many of these features appear to delineate residential space and are similar in appearance to Land tenure contemporary Maya houselots. This paper presents the results of a pilot project designed to collect preliminary Lidar Mesoamerica data on houselots utilizing multiple research methods. Despite differences in land use and vegetation among the Soil phosphorus study loci, ground truthing results suggest the lidar data are high fidelity. Excavations produced mixed results, with architectural excavations providing the broadest array of data, including evidence that two of the houselots were occupied during the Late Classic (AD 600 – 850) period. Qualitative soil tests for available phosphorus detected elevated levels in areas that are consistent with middens and kitchen gardens. In addition, micro- topographic anomalies were identified that may have represented an important household resource. A synthesis of the available data results in a view of large houselots with broad agricultural resource bases. Finally, settle- ment density and the ubiquity of demarcated houselots may signal the existence of a restricted-use land tenure system. 1. Introduction some regions have nearly spatially continuous settlement between centers and field systems (Canuto et al., 2018; Garrison et al., 2019), Over the past decade, a growing body of lidar data has challenged whereas others show discrete farming networks (Beach et al., 2019; models of ancient Maya economic, political, and social organization. By Dunning et al., 2020). These findings show there is much more in the employing this technology in concert with traditional archaeological Maya landscape beyond the rural–urban dichotomy. For the present field methods, hitherto unknown or poorly understood phenomena have study, the impact of lidar has been profound regarding both phenomena emerged from beneath the jungle canopy, including extensive fortifi- and scale. cation systems (Canuto et al., 2018; Garrison et al., 2019), neighbor- A recent lidar survey within the far northwestern corner of Belize hoods (Thompson et al., 2018), and wetland field complexes (Beach (Fig. 1) revealed dense ancient Maya settlement clusters located on et al., 2019). The resultant recalibration of our sense of scale and vari- hilltops surrounded by seasonal wetlands, or bajos. Lidar digital survey ation has been equally impactful. Agricultural terraces (Beach et al., and digitization efforts are ongoing, but at present 2409 structures have 2002, 2015a, 2018) and wetland fields abound (Beach et al., 2015b, been identified within the 39.8 km2 survey block, for a structure density 2019; Krause et al., 2018; Luzzadder-Beach et al., 2012). Moreover, of 60.5/km2. For comparison, this figure exceeds regional structure * Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (J.J. Kwoka). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103049 Received 13 August 2020; Received in revised form 14 May 2021; Accepted 20 May 2021 Available online 5 June 2021 2352-409X/© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. J.J. Kwoka et al. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 38 (2021) 103049 density figures for some of the major Classic period (AD 300–850) sites, within the study area as semi-urban. Following Smith et al. (2015, 174), including El Perú-Waka’, Tintal, Uaxactun, Xultun, and El Zotz (Canuto semi-urban settlements have high population densities but lack the et al., 2018, Table 4). However, it should be noted that structure density complexity and functional heterogeneity of urban centers. Using the figures for those sites were generated using much larger survey areas, standard estimate of 5.6 inhabitants per structure (Hutson and Welch, and that these regions contain much larger sites and buildings. Never- 2016, 106), the two settlement clusters included in this study (discussed theless, the data support the classification of the hilltop settlements below) may have had population densities of 1288 and 1363 people per Fig. 1. Regional map showing locations of study loci and sites mentioned in the text. Map inset: 1) Chunchucmil, 2) Río Bec, 3) La Milpa, 4) Tintal, 5) Xultun, 6) Uaxactun, 7) El Zotz, 8) El Perú-Waka’, and 9) Tamarandito. 2 J.J. Kwoka et al. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 38 (2021) 103049 2 km . According to the demographic model generated by Adams et al. Table 1 (2004, Table 15.1), peak population densities within the study area were Houselot study data. 2 2 167/km in rural areas and 869/km in urban zones. An unexpected Houselots result of the lidar survey was the detection of extensive networks of AL17-2 AL17-3 AL17-4 AL18-1 landesque capital in the form of linear stone features, 87.8 linear km of which have been identified to date. Many of these features delineate Total Length of Stone Features 576.5 m 398.4 m 413.4 463.3 m Bordering Houselot m domestic space and are similar in appearance to contemporary Maya Total Length of Gaps in Houselot 142.1 m 38.3 m 19 m 68 m houselots, or solares. The following paper presents the results of a pilot Boundary (i.e., No Walls) project designed to investigate ancient Maya houselots at a regional % of Houselot Perimeter Marked 76.4% 91.2% 95.4% 85.3% by Stone Walls scale. Project objectives included: 1) assess the accuracy and fidelity of 2 lidar data via ground-truthing, 2) obtain chronological and construction Total Houselot Area 14,366 11,069 m 9,663 12,659 m2 m2 m2 technique data for residential structures and linear stone features # of Structures within Houselot 6 4 5 7 through excavations, and 3) utilize qualitative soil phosphorus and Area Occupied by Architecture 1,118 532.5 m2 284 m2 871 m2 shovel test pit surveys to explore non-architectural space within m2 houselot interiors. These objectives were viewed as necessary first steps Non-Architectural Space 13,248 10,536.5 9,379 11,788 m2 m2 m2 m2 in exploring the possibility that bounded houselots are indicative of a Qualitative Soil Pav Survey Area 7748 m2 – 2990 8410 m2 private land tenure system, and that the large interior spaces are related m2 to staple crop production. % of Houselot Covered by Pav 53.9% – 30.9% 66.4% Survey Shovel Test Pit Survey Area 6684 m2 – – – 1.1. Households, houselots, and boundaries % of Houselot Covered by Shovel 46.5% – – – Test Pit Survey Much of the settlement documented in the lidar survey conforms to the well-studied patio group configuration (Ashmore 1981), whereby multiple structures representing a household, or task-related residential 1974, 1979). Drawing on this large body of comparative data and local group (Hirth, 1993, 22), bound a common patio. Within the Maya area, topography, two types of LSF have been identified within the study area the spatial manifestation of the household is the houselot, which in- – agricultural terraces, and what appear to be boundary walls. Agri- cludes structures and non-architectural space where domestic tasks are cultural terraces come in a variety of forms and have at least three performed. The houselot settlement pattern is a feature of many agrarian functions: reduce slope erosion, buildup soil beds, and improve soil societies in Mesoamerica and beyond (for a review, see Killion, 1992). moisture and retention (Beach and Dunning, 1995; Beach et al., 2002; Ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological studies of contemporary Maya Dunning and Beach, 1994). As such, they are located on sloping terrain houselots have identified compositional and spatial patterning (Collier, and oriented perpendicular to the slope (Fig. 2a). In contrast, the class of 1975; Deal, 1985; Hayden and Cannon, 1982, 1983; Vogt, 1976). At the features identified as boundary walls are either located on relatively core of each houselot sits multiple residential and ancillary structures, level surfaces or, if on uneven terrain, oriented with the slope (Fig. 2b). such as kitchens and storage buildings, centered on an open-air patio Some terrace features also occur on level ground such as box terraces that serves as an activity area (Ashmore, 1981, 48-50). Immediately (Beach et al., 2002) and raised beds in houselots at Chunchucmil (Beach surrounding the structural core is a toft zone for refuse disposal and 1998). Thus, the walled features in this study could meet the functional ˇ storage, followed by a multifunctional area that accounts for the ma- requirements of raised beds but not those of slope terraces.
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