Research on ancient Maya cities is generally focused on large paramount sites that had written records of the rulers' activities. However, these large cities are the exception, rather than the norm, since the majority of the urban sites...
moreResearch on ancient Maya cities is generally focused on large paramount sites that had written records of the rulers' activities. However, these large cities are the exception, rather than the norm, since the majority of the urban sites consist of smaller settlements. Research at the archaeological site of Chan Chich recovered evidence of the development of a non-paramount ancient city. Excavations at the Upper Plaza, the site's main royal precinct, suggest large construction projects, including a large northern platform, nicknamed "Blanca", two smaller platforms at the northeast and northwest, likely topped by perishable superstructures whose use spanned the Late Preclassic and Early Classic periods. In addition to the expansion of monumental construction, the Upper Plaza was a focus of mortuary ritual for the Chan Chich elite during this time. Excavations in 1997 recovered a Terminal Preclassic royal tomb in the center of the plaza and our 2016-2018 excavations uncovered six interments containing eight individuals intrusive into Late Preclassic architecture, including another possible royal internment. In this paper, we examine the local urban tradition at the site of Chan Chich and how the construction of monumental architecture in the Upper Plaza articulates with the mortuary record in order to understand the process of placemaking undertaken by its leaders. We contextualize the construction sequence by comparison to other sites in northwestern Belize.
