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A New Radiocarbon Sequence from Lamanai, Belize: Two Bayesian Models from One of Mesoamerica's Most Enduring Sites

Hanna, JA; Graham, E; Pendergast, DM; Hoggarth, JA; Lentz, DL; Kennett, DJ; (2016) A New Radiocarbon Sequence from Lamanai, Belize: Two Bayesian Models from One of Mesoamerica's Most Enduring Sites. Radiocarbon , 58 (4) pp. 771-794. 10.1017/RDC.2016.44. Green open access

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Abstract

The ancient Maya community of Lamanai, Belize, is well known for its span of occupation from the Early Preclassic (before 1630 BC) to the present. Although most centers in the central and southern Maya Lowlands were abandoned during the Terminal Classic period (AD 750–1000), ceramic and stratigraphic evidence at Lamanai has shown continuous occupation from the start of the Early Preclassic to the Spanish Conquest. In this paper, we present the first complete set of radiocarbon dates from this important site, including 19 new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dates. We use these dates to build Bayesian models for a Terminal Classic structure and an Early Postclassic structure in the site center. This method assists in the refinement of older, conventional dates and provides key chronological information about the site during this volatile time. Adjustments to the standard, uniform distribution model are made using exponential, long-tail, and trapezoidal distributions to incorporate outlier samples and more accurately portray ceramic phases. Because of changes in construction behavior in the Terminal Classic, it is difficult to acquire primary samples from this period, but there remains enough overlap between dates and ceramic phases to deduce persistent occupation at Lamanai during the transition from Late Classic to Postclassic times.

Type: Article
Title: A New Radiocarbon Sequence from Lamanai, Belize: Two Bayesian Models from One of Mesoamerica's Most Enduring Sites
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1017/RDC.2016.44
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2016.44
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2016 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona. This article has been published in a revised form in Radiocarbon journal at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2016.44. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works.
Keywords: Terminal Classic; Postclassic; trapezoid; outlier; old wood
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1505790
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