Ancient Maya Cities of the Eastern Lowlands

364 Pages·2015·6.32 MB·English

by  Brett A. Houk

Ancient Maya Cities of the Eastern Lowlands
Ancient Cities of the New World
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
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Ancient Maya Cities
of the Eastern Lowlands
Brett A. Houk
Foreword by
Marilyn A. Masson,
Michael E. Smith,
and John W. Janusek
University Press of Florida
Gainesville / Tallahassee / Tampa / Boca Raton
Pensacola / Orlando / Miami / Jacksonville / Ft. Myers / Sarasota
Copyright 2015 by Brett A. Houk
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
20 19 18 17 16 15 6 5 4 3 2 1
A record of cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-8130-6063-7
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
For my parents
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Contents
List of Illustrations ix
List of Tables xii
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
1. Ancient Maya Urbanism in the Eastern Lowlands 1
2. Studying Maya Cities 13
3. The Setting in Space and Time 46
4. Preclassic Foundations 69
5. Southern Belize 84
6. Vaca Plateau and Maya Mountains 119
7. Belize Valley 147
8. Northwestern Belize 168
9. Northern Belize 201
10. Comparisons and Urban Planning 232
11. Deciphering Meaning in Maya Cities 265
References Cited 285
Index 327
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Illustrations
1.1. Map of the Maya area xviii
1.2. Map of the eastern lowlands 4
2.1. Structure B-3 at Cahal Pech with plaster restored over facing
masonry 29
2.2. Idealized cross section of a vaulted masonry building 30
2.3. Structure A-32 on the north face of the Castillo at Xunantunich 31
2.4. Restored Structure E-1 at Cahal Pech 32
2.5. Photograph of a partially collapsed building in Courtyard 100B at La
Milpa 41
2.6. Shaded relief map of Chan Chich Structure A-5 with 0.25-m contours
overlaid 43
2.7. Contour map of La Milpa Courtyard 100 with rectified map of
structures and architectural plan of eastern courtyard wall overlaid 44
4.1. Map of Cahal Pech 72
4.2. Simplified plan map of superimposed Late Preclassic Structures 14 and
15 buried in the plaza at the Tolok Group, Cahal Pech 73
4.3. Eastern profile Structure B1 at Blackman Eddy 74
4.4. Map of Cerros with inset of Central Precinct 81
5.1. Map of southern and central Belize 85
5.2. Map of Pusilhá 88
5.3. Map of Moho Plaza at Pusilhá 91
5.4. Map of Uxbenka 96
5.5. Map of Uxbenka’s Stela Plaza 97
5.6. Map of Uxbenka Groups B–F 99
5.7. Map of Lubaantun 105
5.8. Photograph of Structure 12 at Lubaantun 106
5.9. Photograph of Plaza V at Lubaantun 107