Community-Building in the Preclassic Maya Lowlands: Archaeological Investigations at Ceibal, Guatemala

FAIN: RZ-51209-10

Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)
Takeshi Inomata (Project Director: November 2009 to November 2014)

Excavation, analysis, and interpretation of Preclassic (900 BC - AD 250) remains at Ceibal, a Maya site in present day Guatemala. (36 months)

Through the intensive excavation of ritual and residential complexes dating to the Preclassic period at the lowland Maya site of Ceibal, Guatemala, the project will examine how the residents built their community, leading to increasing political centralization and social hierarchy. A central focus of research will be on the use of local and foreign styles and symbols in the process of development of lowland Maya civilization. The project will involve three seasons of field and lab work from January 2011 through December 2013.