With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Thomas Hester and his colleagues will conduct archaeological excavation at the site of Cobweb Swamp, Belize. In 1987, during the course of survey and test pitting in the area surrounding the known Mayan site of Colha, Dr. Hester discovered highly paginated stone artifacts which stratigraphically underlay Mayan artifacts. Additional excavation in 1991 yielded materials radiocarbon dated to 2500 to 1400 BC. This predates the earliest known Mayan presence in the region. Dr. Hester and colleagues will now return to the site and excavate a large 4x6 meter block as well as smaller 2x2 meter test excavations. He hopes to recover abundant lithic as well as floral and faunal remains and on this basis both describe this pre-Mayan culture and determine its relationship to later Mayan occupation of the region. He will also obtain material for additional radiocarbon dating, collect pollen to reconstruct environment, and attempt to determine how this changed over time. The origins of the Mayan peoples who inhabited lowland Middle America are not known. In Belize the earliest Mayan site dates to about 1200 BC and by that time the roots of Mayan civilization has been established. Archaeological data from earlier periods exists, but it is minimal and does not come from stratigraphically secure, well dated contexts. Cobweb Swamp however is different and is important for this reason. It is unclear whether Mayan culture emerged from this earlier pre- ceramic context or if Mayan peoples entered the region from elsewhere. The question is important because it bears on our understanding of how complex culture developed in heavily forested tropical environments. This research is significant for several reasons. It will increase our understanding of how complex societies arise and will provide data of interest to many archaeologists.
