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The “Invisible” Maya: Minimally Mounded Residential Settlement at Itzán, Petén, Guatemala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kevin J. Johnston*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Ohio State University, 244 Lord Hall, 124 W. 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1364 (johnston.213@osu.edu)

Abstract

Through analyses of data recovered at Itzán, Guatemala, this paper examines the architectural morphology and the probable functions of “invisible” building remains in the Maya Lowlands. Invisible building remains are buried, leave no surface traces, and cannot be detected during surface survey, which is the principal settlement detection technique employed by Mayanists. Data at Itzán and other sites suggest that Maya invisible buildings are a more abundant settlement category than many archaeologists have supposed.

A través de información recuperada en Itzán, Guatemala, examino la arquitectura y las funciones probables de las construcciones no visibles en las tierras bajas de los mayas. Los vestigios de las construcciones no visibles son completamente sepultados, y no pueden ser descubiertos mediante el reconocimiento de terreno, que es la base de la técnica utilizada por los mayistas para establecer patrones de asentamiento. La información de Itzán y otros sitios sugiere que las construcciones no visibles Mayas son de una categoría residencial más comûn que los arqueólogos han supuesto.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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