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Excavations directed by Elizabeth
Graham and David Pendergast began on Ambergris Caye at the site
of Marco Gonzalez in 1986. The results of the preliminary investigations
have been reported in the Journal of Field Archaeology 16:1-16.
Work continued at Marco Gonzalez in 1990, and from 1991 to 1993
small-scale excavations were carried out in the town of San Pedro,
and also at Santa Cruz, on the island's leeward side, to learn
something about the chronology of settlement and environmental
change. Graham and Pendergast's work on the southern part of
Ambergris Caye complements the archaeological excavations carried
out by Thomas Guderjan, James Garber, and Herman Smith at sites
on the northern part of the caye, and reported in Maya Maritime
Trade, Settlement, and Populations on Ambergris Caye, Belize
(edited by T. Guderjan and J. Garber, 1995, Maya Research Program,
P.O. Box 15376, San Antonio, Texas 78212). Tom Guderjan has also
written a booklet on the history of the archaeology of Ambergris
Caye, and this is available at many bookstores and shops in Belize.
Graham and Pendergast are
presently at work on a summary of their excavations on the caye
to date. Marco Gonzalez first saw intensive use during the Protoclassic
and Early Classic periods (ca. A.D. 1-250), but scattered sherds
indicate that the area may have been utilized as early as the
Late Preclassic period (about 100 B.C.). The presence of huge
numbers of sherds from standardized vessels thought to have been
used to make salt cakes indicates that islanders focused largely
on the shipment of salt during the Late Classic period (ca. A.D.
600-800) but that this tailed off during the time of the Maya
collapse, and was replaced by renewed interest in wide-ranging
trade. Most of the 49 buildings identified at Marco Gonzalez
were either built or modified between about A.D. 950 to 1200.
Less dense occupation continued through the Late Postclassic
and early Historic periods as indicated by the ceramics recovered
from residential remains, surface scatter, and from offerings
in a late addition to the stair of Str. 12, a probable residential
building.
Santa Cruz also seems to have
supported salt-making and distributing during the Late Classic,
and to have seen substantial expansion and construction during
the Early Postclassic. There is more evidence of Late Postclassic
residences at Santa Cruz than at Marco Gonzalez, and numerous
fruit trees indicate that the area has been used in one form
or another right down to the present day.
Excavations in San Pedro itself produced remains as early as
the Early Classic, although Late Postclassic evidence predominated.
The indications are that San Pedro was indeed a population centre
during the Late Postclassic and early Historic periods. Historic
remains cluster around the Sands Hotel, Martha's Store, the Alijua
Building, and the lots adjoining these areas. In 1992, Pendergast
discovered a number of well-preserved burials below house floors
on the Sands property, and further remains of residential activity
were discovered in 1993, although the small areas opened made
a full assessment of occupation impossible. The stratigraphy
and character of sediments on the Sands property suggested to
geologist S.J. Mazzullo from Wichita State University that the
island had, prior to the Late Postclassic period, been crossed
by a channel in the zone that is now considered the town's centre.
Further excavation is necessary before this can be confirmed,
and we are hoping to excavate portions of the last open lot in
this area, immediately behind the Alijua Building, before construction
begins.
Of the artifacts recovered,
the most complete and best preserved ceramics come from Marco
Gonzalez. A good example is the whistle figurine of a musician,
shown on our cover page. The excellent preservation of burials
means that a great deal can be learned about the diet and health
of the first San Pedranos. Information on studies being carried
out by Dr. Christine White of the University of Western Ontario
and her students can be found in the RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES
UPDATE. Sherds from Spanish Colonial olive jars are evidence
of early Spanish contact, and bottles and ceramics from the British
and modern periods abound. Not surprisingly, the faunal remains
indicate that the island supported a lively fishing and shellfishing
industry from at least 50 B.C. onward. Continuing environmental
studies focus on the impact of Maya occupation on soil-forming
processes and vegetational succession. Garbage and waste management
studies are planned in order to assess modern cycling of nutrients
and soil-building efforts. |
