The Distributed Household: Plant and Mollusk Remains from K'axob, Belize

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Dedrick, Maia
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology

Abstract

In the archaeological study of ancient Maya sites, scholars have considered structures of various sizes and configurations the material remains of households, social groups that made up the basic units of economic production. Archaeologists have used disparities in structure size and complexity to argue for political and ritual hierarchy among structures. This study presents faunal and botanical data from two structures at the site of K'axob, in northern Belize, which have been referred to as adjacent households. Using this biological as well as architectural evidence, I explore the relationship between the larger and smaller structure and developments in the organization of activity areas through time. I suggest that, by the Classic period, households were distributed across more than one structure. Complementary activities took place in adjoining areas, resulting in cooperation, rather than competition, across structures.

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