SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN POSTCLASSIC NORTHERN BELIZE

The Lowland Maya Postclassic period has been the subject of much speculation. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to an understanding of the postclassic period and specifically to determine: (1) the relationship between the Classic and Postclassic period Maya; (2) the appropriateness of the models utilized to describe and explain Postclassic Maya society; (3) the possibilities for archaeological identification of ethnic groups; and (4) the congruence between archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence. In order to elucidate these problems, field excavations were undertaken in northern Belize, first at the site of Nohmul (1978, 1979) and second, more extensively at the site of Santa Rita Corozal (1979, 1980); these structural investigations are described in detail. Analysis of the Terminal Classic - Early Postclassic occupation at Nohmul and the predominantly Late Postclassic occupation at Santa Rita Corozal has allowed for an examination of each of the outlined problems. Information gathered from the site of Nohmul indicates the importance of Chichen Itza related influence during the Terminal Classic Period in the Southern Lowlands and suggests that more than one group of peoples was involved in the Southern Lowland Maya Collapse. Investigations at Santa Rita, in contrast, indicate significant cultural continuities between the Classic and Late Postclassic periods. Research at Santa Rita refutes previous models for the Postclassic as it does not indicate a decadent Postclassic or one distinguished from the preceding Classic period strictly through increased importance of cost-control mechanisms. While, archaeological identification of ethnic groups is at best a problematic topic, research at mohmul has been taken to represent Yucatec Maya influences on northern Belize during the Terminal Classic - Early Postclassic. Late Postclassic Santa Rita has been seen in the past as Mexican influenced and Putun controlled, however the present research supports a predominantly Maya presence at the site. The final contribution of the dissertation lies in the discussions of the congruence between archaeology and ethnohistory as expressed at Santa Rita