Talk like an archaeologist

Ancestral Mayas — a civilisation that occupied modern-day Mexico and Central America from approximately 2000 BCE to 1600 CE

Artefact — an object made or used by humans (e.g., pottery, stone tools) uncovered during an excavation

Boomtown — a settlement characterised by sudden and rapid population growth and development

Excavation — a technique used in archaeology to uncover a site by slowly and carefully removing soil and sediment to expose ancient structures and artefacts

Geochemistry — chemical analysis of geological material, such as soil and sediment

Mayas — Indigenous Peoples of Mexico and Central America who are descended from the Ancestral Mayas

Wattle-and-daub — a construction technique in which woven sticks (wattle) are filled with soil (daub) 

An intriguing mystery lies hidden in plain sight within an orange grove in Belize. Between neat rows of orange trees, mounds of earth and stone rise up – the remains of an Ancestral Maya town that hold clues to uncovering the secrets of an ancient civilisation.

“To a trained eye, it is clear to see how the town was laid out, as the different types of mounds represent different buildings in what was once a thriving ‘downtown’ core surrounded by residential areas,” explains Dr Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown, who leads the Stann Creek Regional Archaeology Project (SCRAP). The original name of this abandoned town has been lost, but it is known today as Alabama, named after an American banana company that operated in the area in the 1950s.

The Stann Creek Regional Archaeology Project

As a collaboration between archaeologists and residents of the nearby village of Maya Mopan, SCRAP aims to excavate Alabama to learn more about the people who once lived there. Input from local Mayas is essential to the project, as they are culturally descended from the Ancestral Mayas. “We consult with community members throughout all stages of the research process, from designing research questions to conducting excavations to communicating results,” explains Meaghan. “Maya input is critical as it is their history that we are uncovering and exploring.”

What was Alabama like?

From 700 CE to 900 CE, Alabama was a bustling town, consisting of a well-defined urban core that included temples, a ballcourt and administrative structures. “Most of the approximately 1,000 residents lived in surrounding settlement zones in small wattle-and-daub houses thatched with palm leaves,” says PhD candidate Matthew Longstaffe. “These houses were built on top of raised rectangular platforms made from granite and earth.” Larger family groups occupied multiple platforms, forming small residential compounds. While the houses themselves no longer exist, the platform structures still lie among the orange groves of Maya Mopan.

Was Alabama a boomtown?

Meaghan and Matthew believe that Alabama was an example of an Ancestral Maya boomtown. “Boomtowns are settlements that experience sudden and rapid population growth, accompanied by rapid development of infrastructure and economic growth,” explains Matthew. “This is often caused by changes in political or economic conditions that create opportunities for development.” SCRAP’s excavations have revealed that Alabama’s urban core and surrounding settlement zones experienced rapid development from 700 CE onwards. As the population suddenly increased, new structures were built in a diverse range of architectural styles.

“We have several hypotheses to explain Alabama’s boom, as there were probably many contributing factors,” says Matthew. It is likely that Ancestral Mayas realised this was a desirable place to settle when they discovered the many natural resources that could be exploited from the surrounding area (including granite, clay, salt and cacao). Regional sociopolitical events and changes in trade routes may also have caused population movements.

How do archaeologists study ancient sites?

“Analysing the structures and artefacts (and their contexts) uncovered during excavations is crucial to archaeological research,” explains Meaghan. Recently, the SCRAP team has been uncovering and examining the architectural features on platforms to gain an insight into the original appearances and functions of the buildings that once sat on top of them. “Temples, houses and storerooms will all look different and contain different artefacts,” explains Matthew.

Pottery artefacts are key to uncovering the lives of the Ancestral Mayas. Near temple platforms, the team has found ceremonial artefacts, such as incense burners. In contrast, everyday pottery objects such as tools for preparing and cooking food have been found associated with house platforms. And the presence of large serving vessels may indicate that some families hosted communal feasts. The team analyses the composition of pottery artefacts to determine whether they were made with local clay or imported to Alabama from elsewhere in the region or beyond. “This information helps us reconstruct trade networks and understand how they evolved with time,” explains Matthew.

Organic materials, like the wattle and palm thatch used to build houses, are rarely preserved in the tropical environments of Belize. So, in addition to studying the structures and artefacts that have survived the test of time, the team also analyses the geochemistry of soil and sediment samples. Variations in different elements can indicate where the Ancestral Mayas discarded organic materials or planted gardens and fields. “Combining architectural and artefact analysis with soil and sediment geochemistry allows us to build a more complete picture of daily life in Alabama,” says Matthew.

What have Meaghan and Matthew discovered about Alabama?

SCRAP’s excavations and analyses have uncovered evidence that the Ancestral Mayas of Alabama were able to adapt to the regional landscape and took advantage of locally available resources. Pottery was crafted from local clay, tools were made from local stone and platforms were built from local granite and earth. “Alabama architectural choices are unique in the Ancestral Maya world (where most construction was with limestone) which reflects their adaptation to the local environment,” says Matthew.

The team has uncovered strong evidence that Alabama was an innovative boomtown, and there are clues (in the form of imported pottery and stone tools) that point to extensive trade networks with other communities in the region and beyond. “This suggests that Alabama was a hub of economic and cultural exchange within the broader Ancestral Maya world,” says Matthew. Thanks to the work of the SCRAP team, we are learning more about the lives of these ancient peoples.

Dr Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown 

Associate Professor, Athabasca University, Canada

Matthew Longstaffe

PhD candidate, University of Calgary, Canada

Field of research: Archaeology

Research project: The Stann Creek Regional Archaeology Project (SCRAP) – Excavating an Ancestral Maya town in Belize

Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) 

About archaeology

“Archaeology is an amazing career!” says Meaghan. “It is a privilege to be part of it.” As the study of the human past, archaeologists study the structures and artefacts left behind by previous communities and use these to understand what their lives were like.

A day in the life of an archaeologist

During excavations at Alabama, the SCRAP team are onsite and ready to start work by 7 am. In addition to professional archaeologists and archaeology students, most of the team is from the nearby village of Maya Mopan. The local Mayas work as field assistants, supervisors and community liaisons, and provide the team with delicious food.

Excavations involve carefully removing soil and sediment with trowels and brushes to uncover artefacts (such as fragments of pottery) and structures (such as sections of platforms). “We maintain detailed records of the excavation process,” explains Matthew. “Artefacts, written descriptions, photos, maps and sketches all contribute data that we use to interpret the site.”