@article{51aaa788555a432f95fd5075b02ad9f3,
title = "THE LAST HURRAH: EXAMINING the NATURE of PERI-ABANDONMENT DEPOSITS and ACTIVITIES at CAHAL PECH, BELIZE",
abstract = "Archaeological investigations by the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project at Cahal Pech uncovered several Terminal Classic (a.d. 750-900) peri-abandonment deposits and activity areas at this Belize River Valley center. The deposits contained a diverse assemblage of cultural remains located above and between collapsed architecture, associated with evidence for burning activities. In the past, archaeologists have generally interpreted similar assemblages as {"}problematic deposits{"} - {"}de facto{"} refuse (garbage) - as associated with building termination and desecration, or as evidence for rapid abandonment during the violent destruction of these ancient cities. It is argued here that the microstratigraphic excavation and contextual analysis of these features provide limited support for these explanations. Alternatively, we suggest that the deposits are more likely associated with peri-abandonment rituals that were conducted by a reduced remnant population at Cahal Pech, or by small groups who continued to reside in the site's periphery during the last stages of the Terminal Classic period.",
author = "Awe, {Jaime J.} and Ebert, {Claire E.} and Hoggarth, {Julie A.} and Aimers, {James J.} and Christophe Helmke and John Douglas and Stemp, {W. James}",
note = "Funding Information: Archaeological excavations at Cahal Pech were conducted under the auspices of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project directed by Jaime Awe, Julie Hoggarth, and Claire Ebert. Permission to conduct the research described herein was graciously granted by the Belize Institute of Archaeology under the direction of Drs. Allan Moore, John Morris, and Harriot Topsey. Funding for the research and conservation programs at the site were generously provided by the Canadian Commission to UNESCO, the Gordon Childe Fund of the University of London, the Tilden Family Foundation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Awe), the National Science Foundation (BCS-1460369, Hoggarth), the Belize Ministry of Tourism Culture, and the BVAR Project. We extend our sincere gratitude to all these institutions and foundations, to the many members of the BVAR Project, and to the many colleagues who have assisted us during 32 years of investigations in Western Belize. Funding Information: Archaeological excavations at Cahal Pech were conducted under the auspices of the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance (BVAR) Project directed by Jaime Awe, Julie Hoggarth, and Claire Ebert. Permission to conduct the research described herein was graciously granted by the Belize Institute of Archaeology under the direction of Drs. Allan Moore, John Morris, and Harriot Topsey. Funding for the research and conservation programs at the site were generously provided by the Canadian Commission to UNESCO, the Gordon Childe Fund of the University of London, the Tilden Family Foundation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Awe), the National Science Foundation (BCS-1460369, Hoggarth), the Belize Ministry of Tourism Culture, and the BVAR Project. We extend our sincere gratitude to all these institutions and foundations, to the many members of the BVAR Project, and to the many colleagues who have assisted us during 32 years of investigations in Western Belize. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} Cambridge University Press, 2020.",
year = "2020",
month = mar,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1017/S0956536119000233",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "31",
pages = "175--187",
journal = "Ancient Mesoamerica",
issn = "0956-5361",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
number = "1",
}