Date of Award

Spring 5-11-2013

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Jeffrey B. Glover

Second Advisor

Terry Powis

Third Advisor

Christopher Morehart

Abstract

The Ancient Maya site of Pacbitun is centrally located between the two major ecozones of the Belize River Valley and the Mountain Pine Ridge in west-central Belize. In June 2012, investigations began on a group of mounds, known as the Tzib Group, located outside of Pacbitun’s site core in order to investigate the group's potential as a locale for ground stone tool workshops. Excavations at the Tzib Group uncovered over 1000kg of granite debitage as well as mano and metate preforms at varying stages of production. In analyzing the possibility of a ground stone production center, this paper seeks to expand upon previous research at Pacbitun pertaining to resource acquisition, craft-specialization, and exchange as a result of the site’s central location in the valley during the Late Classic period (AD 600-900).

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/4078147

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