book chapter

The settlement system in a late Preclassic Maya community

archaeology at cerros, belize, central america, , series3Published In 1991 • Pages: x, 243 p

By: Scarborough, Vernon L..

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This work examines the settlement system at the Cerros site, a Late Preclassic Lowland Maya center located on the leeward shore of Lowry's Bight in northern Belize. The study of this site is particularly important because of the fact that 'the near absence of later construction at Cerros makes it unique in the archaeology of the Southern Maya Lowlands and has allowed the study of Late Preclassic settlement patterns undistubred by later site modification or mixing of deposits' (p. 1). In addition to the author's major discussion of settlement patterns, there is also much data to be found in this document on the physical environment, Preclassic ball courts, and the canals at Cerros. Cultural comparisons are also made to other Preclassic populations in the lowland Mayan area (e.g., Guatemala, Mexico). Four appendices conclude this work providing information on Scarborough's volumetric studies at Cerros, in which the amount of earth and rubble used in the constructon of various structures are estimated; a soil sample analysis; and a listing of various molluscan fauna and flora found at the site.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Organization and analysis of results of research
Archaeological survey methods
Topography and geology
Soil
Fauna
Flora
Water supply
Earth moving
Structures
Dwellings
Public structures
Settlement patterns
Chronologies and culture sequences
Cultural stratigraphy
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Preclassic Maya
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2001
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Maya Area
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
book chapter
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Archaeologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
John Beierle ; 2000
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1974-1981
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
4000 BP-1850 BP (2000 B.C.-150 A.D.)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Cerros site, Lowry's Bight, northern Belize
NotesAdditional notes
by Vernon L. Scarborough
Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-236) and index
large folded map in end-pocket not included
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
86003843
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Mayas--Antiquities