Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T22:14:57.868Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Location Analysis of Prehistoric Maya Sites in Northern British Honduras

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Ernestene L. Green
Ernestene L. Green*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Western Michigan University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper examines the spatial distribution of prehistoric Maya sites in Corozal District, northern British Honduras (Belize). Central to the analysis is the proposition that sites were located so as to minimize the effort expended in acquiring critical resources. The method is to isolate characteristics of the environment and to test their correlation with settlement distribution. The analysis includes both bivariate and multivariate tests. By using both kinds of tests, it is possible to suggest not only which characteristics were relevant to the selection of a location for settlement but also the relative importance of these characteristics. The analysis indicates that variables of soil, vegetation, and distance from navigable water are significantly associated with settlement. Also, the analysis brings out the phenomenon of settlement clusterings as it occurs in this region.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 38 , Issue 3 , July 1973 , pp. 279 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrews, E. W. 1965 Archaeology and prehistory of the northern Maya lowlands: introdution. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited by Willey, Gordon E., pp. 288–330. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Kong, Chu 1968 Principles of econometrics. International Textbook Company, Scranton.Google Scholar
Gann, T. 1900 Mounds in Northern Honduras, Bureau of American Ethnology, Annual Report 19:655–692.Google Scholar
Gann, T. 1918 The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British Honduras. Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 64.Google Scholar
G. (Editor), Gummerman 1970 The distribution of prehistoric population aggregates. Prescott College Anthropological Reports 1.Google Scholar
Haggett, P. 1965 Locational analysis in human geography. Edward Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Haviland, W. A. 1966 Social integration and the Classic Maya. American Antiquity 31:625–631.Google Scholar
Haviland, W. A. 1968 Ancient Lowland Maya social organization. Middle American Research Institute 26:93–117.Google Scholar
Diego de, Landa 1941 Landa's relacion de las cosas de Yucatan, translated and edited by A. M. Tozzer. Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology , 18.Google Scholar
Pendergast, D. M. 1971 Evidence of early Teotihuacan-Lowland Maya contact at Altun Ha. American Antiquity 36:455–459.Google Scholar
Pollock, H. E. D. 1965 Architecture of the Maya lowlands. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited by Willey, Gordon R., pp. 387–440. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Puleston, D. E., and Puleston, O. S. 1971 An ecological approach to the origins of Maya civilization. Archaeology 24:330–336.Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1943 The Indian background of colonial Yucatan. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 548.Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1965 Lowland Maya native society at Spanish contact. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 3, edited by Willey, Gordon R., pp. 659–678. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1939 Excavations at San Jose, British Honduras, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication 506.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1965 Archaeological synthesis of the southern Maya lowlands. In Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, edited bý Willey, Gordon R., pp. 331–359. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Wilken, G. C. 1971 Food producing systems available to the ancient Maya. American Antiquity 36:432–448.Google Scholar
Wright, A. C. S., Romney, D. H., Arbuckle, R. H., and Vial, V. E. 1959 Land use in British Honduras, Colonial Research Publications, 24.Google Scholar