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Sunday, April 16, 2006
Ancient States Presentation
Following a peer review, I've changed around some things on my paper and began my Powerpoint presentation for Monday morning:
The archaeological site of Lamanai in present-day Belize was inhabited for more than two thousand years, making it one of the longest continuously occupied sites in the region. Settlement began in the early Preclassic period (2000-900 BCE) and continued until Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century. Lamanai’s persistence can be partly attributed to its role in the regulation of Maya trade, which in turn is due to its proximity to the New River. Previous research at Lamanai has focused primarily on ceremonial and residential architecture, ecology, and political economy. Consequently, few investigations have focused specifically on the subsistence practices of the ancient residents at Lamanai. The lack of archaeological data concerning agriculture limits our ability to develop theories that attempt to explain the rise of social and political complexity at Lamanai. Archaeological remains of intensive practices such as canal irrigation, raised fields, and terracing at other lowland sites in northern Belize occur in analogous ecological contexts and can illuminate the situation at Lamanai. This paper will discuss the types of agricultural practices that may have supported the residents of Lamanai and their subsistence economy, concluding that in the absence of direct evidence, examining the nature of the interactions between humans and their environment holds great potential for guiding future research.
Posted by Will at April 16, 2006 12:07 AM in Papers and Essays