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Colha, Belize

Colha, Belize is a Maya archaeological site located in northern portion of the country, about 52 km. north of Belize City. The site is one of the earliest in the Maya region and remains important to the archaeological record of the Maya culture well into the Postclassic Period. According to Palma Buttles, “Archaeological evidence from Colha allows for the interpretation occupation from the Early Preceramic (3400-1900B.C.) to Middle Postclassic (A.D. 1150-1300) with population peaks occurring in the Late Preclassic (400B.C.- A.D. 100) and again in the Late Classic ( A.D. 600-850)”[1].These peaks in population are directly related to the presence of stone tool workshops at the site. Colha’s proximity to an important source of high quality chert that is found in the Tertiary limestone of the region[2] and well traveled trade routes was utilized by the inhabitants to develop a niche in the Maya trade market that may have extended to the Greater Antilles[3]. During the Late Preclassic and Lata Classic periods, Colha served as a primary supplier of worked stone tools for the region. It has been estimated that the 36 workshops at Colha porduced nearly 4 million chert and obsidian tools and eccentrics that were dispersed throughout Mesoamerica during the Maya era[4][5]. This made it an important player in the trade of essential good throughout the area. 

Archaeological History

Formative Period

Preclassic Period Colha

There are three generally recognized phases in Preclassic Period (900 B.C. – A.D. 250) Colha. These are: 1. Middle Preclassic (900-400 B.C.), 2. Late Preclassic (400 B.C. – A.D. 100), and 3. Protoclassic (A.D. 100-250)[6].During this period a general pattern of development is evident at the site through evidence of increasing complexity, socially, culturally and economically[7].Despite evidence of periodic utilization in the Preceramic (Formative) Period through pollen analysis at nearby Cobweb Swamp[8] and debitage from lithic utilization around the site as far back as the Paleolithic[9], the first evidence of settled Maya through architectural means at Colha comes in the Early to Middle Preclassic Period[10].

Middle Preclassic Colha (900-400B.C.)

The early portion of the Middle Preclassic, as the inception of permanant settlement in Colha, was charectorized by small households that are dipersed throughout the site[11] and the Bolay Complex of ceramics (found primarily in caches)[12], with evidence of wetland agriculture and "garden hunting" in nearby Cobweb Swamp as a subsistance strategy[13][14] The community of Colha quickly progressed from there. According to Buttles, "By the Late Middle Preclassic (600 - 400B.C.), Chiwa complex (or Mamom phase) settlement patterns suggest that the series of interactive households became unified and probably represented a low-level chiefdom society"[15].Additionally, the first signs of the importing of raw materials and goods from afar appear in the Middle Preclassic. This is suggested to be evidence of the development of long distance trade and causal for the expansion of Colha in population and prestige[16]. Middle Preclassic architecture is dominated by low-walled circular structures built on middens. These would have supported perishable superstructures[17][18].

Late Preclassic Colha (400B.C.-A.D.100)

Further increases in population and complexity are evident in the Late Preclassic, at Colha[19]. The site grew to an estimated population of 600 during this period and began to construct its first monumental architecture, in the form of formal plazas, temples, and a ballcourt[20]. This suggests that Colha had developed social stratification and may have been independent or semi-independent[21]. To support this growth, Colha further developed its system of raised fields at Cobweb Swamp[22] and expanded its lithic production specialization, in scale and types of lithics produced (i.e. stemmed macroblades and bifacial symbolic flaked stones[23]) to become a center of importance in the region. Hester and Shafer document that as many as 36 workshops are present during this period[24]. While domestic structures remained architecturally similar, some did increase in size during the Late Preclassic.Burials become more frequent in this period and the contents show more diverse contents, especially as it pertains to imported items[25].

Protoclassic Period Colha (A.D. 100-250)

The Protoclassic Period, sometimes refered to ar the Terminal Preclassic, at Colha is a time of change in ceramics and patterns found in Colha's material culture[26]. The Blossom Red complex is indicative of this transitional period and is dominated by Sierra Red ceramics, althought several other types (San Filipe, Chactoc, and Sarteneja) make up part of the complex[27]. At least two buildings have been attributed to the Protoclassic Period and these have demonstrated a shift in layout from the apsidal form of earlier periods toward the square/rectangular form that is found in the Classic Period[28]. Anthony suggests that these structures may have been used for ritual purposes, as evidenced by the use of extensize caching at structure 2012. Caches for the Protoclassic tend to be in lip-to-lip pottery vessels and include an important cache of blood letting paraphernalia[29]. This ritual evidence may coincide with the first observations of mathematics and writing at Colha, which includes glyphs incised into one of these cache vessels[30].

Classic Period

The classic period represents a time of fluxuation in population and power for Colha. Three occupational phases are recognized at Colha during the classic period. Each has an associated ceramic complex. The Early Classic (A.D. 250-600) is associated with the Cobweb complex. The Late Classic (A.D. 600-700)is associated with the Bomba complex. And, the Terminal Classic (A.D. 700-875) is associated with the Masson complex[31][32].

Early Classic Colha

According to Buttles, "During the Early Classic Cobweb complex are apperent decreases in population, lithic production, settlement patterns, mortuary practices, and in general, material culture"[33]. While Cobweb complex ceramics are found throughout the site, the assemblage is the smallest numerically of the complexes associated with Colha[34][35] and there have been no lithics workshops attributed to this period at the site[36].The latter may be an indication of the growing improtance of lithic workshops at Altun Ha, Belize and indicative of a shift in political power in the region[37].

Late Classic Colha

Terminal Classic Colha

Postclassic Period

References

  1. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin.
  2. ^ Jones, John G. 1994. Pollen Evidence from Early Settlement and Agriculture in Northern Belize. Palynology. Vol. 18; 205-211
  3. ^ Wilson, Samuel M.; Iceland, Harry B.; Hester, Thomas R. 1998. Preceramic Connections Between Yucatan and the Caribbean. Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 9(4): 342-352.
  4. ^ Brown DO, Dreiss ML, and Hughes RE. 2004. Preclassic Obsidian Procurement and Utilization at the Maya Site of Colha, Belize. Latin American Antiquity 15(2):222-240
  5. ^ Santone L. 1997. Transport Costs, Consumer Demand, and Patterns of Intraregional Exchange: A Perspective on Commodity Production and Distribution from Northern Belize. Latin American Antiquity 8(1):71-88.
  6. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin
  7. ^ Scarborough, Vernon L. 1986. Civic and Residential Settlement at a Late Preclassic Maya Center. Journal of Field Archaeology. Vol 13: 155-175.
  8. ^ Jones, John G. 1994. Pollen Evidence from Early Settlement and Agriculture in Northern Belize. Palynology. Vol. 18; 205-211
  9. ^ Shafer, Harry J. and Hester, Thomas J. 1991. Lithic Craft Specialization and Product Distribution at the Maya Site of Colha. World Archaeology. 23(1): 79-97.
  10. ^ Potter, Daniel R.; Hester, Thomas R.; Black, Stephen L.; and Valdez, Fred (Jr.). 1984. Relationships Between Early Preclassic and Early Middle Preclassic Phases in Northern Belize: A Comment on "Lowland Maya Archaeology at the Crossroads". American Antiquity. 49(3): 628-631.
  11. ^ 6.^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin
  12. ^ Valdez, Fred (Jr.). 1994. The Colha Ceramic Complexes. In Continuing Archaeology at Colha, Belize: Studies in Archaeology 16. Edited by T. Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of texas at Austin
  13. ^ Jacob, John S. 1992. The Agroecological Evolution of Cobweb Swamp, Belize. PhD Dissertation Texas A&M University.
  14. ^ Shaw, Leslie C. 1991. The Articulation of Social Inequality and Fuanal Resource Use in the Preclassic Community of Colha, Northern Belize. PhD Dissertation for University of Massechusetts.
  15. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin: pg.72
  16. ^ Shafer, Harry J. 1994. Community-wide Lithic Craft Specialization in the Late Preclassic Lowland Maya: A Case for Northern Belize. In Continuing Archaeology at Colha, Belize.Studies in Archaeology 16. Edited by T.Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. pp.137-154.Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of texas at Austin
  17. ^ Anthony, Dana S. 1987. Analysis of the Preclassic Households Beneath the Main Plaza at Colha, Belize. Master's thesis for the University of Texas at Austin.
  18. ^ 6.^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin
  19. ^ Hester, Thomas R. and Shafer, Harry J. 1994. The Ancient Maya Craft Community at Colha, Belize and Its External Relationships. In Archaeological Views from the Countryside: Village Communities in Early Complex Societies. Edited by G. Schwartz and S. Falconer. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. pp. 48-63.
  20. ^ Eaton, Jack D. 1982. Colha: An Overview of Architecture and Settlement. In Archaeology at Colha, Belize: The 1981 Interum Report. Edited by T.Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. Center for Archaeological Research. The University of texas at San Antonio. pp.11-20.
  21. ^ Adams, Richard E.W. 1982. Rank Size Analysis of northern Belize Maya Sites. In Archaeology of Colha, Belize: The 1981 Interum Report. Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio. pp.60-64.
  22. ^ Jacob, John S. 1992. The Agroecological Evolution of Cobweb Swamp, Belize. PhD Dissertation Texas A&M University.
  23. ^ Meadows, Richard. 2001. Crafting K'awil: A Comparative Analysis of Maya Symbolic Flaked Stone Assemblages from Three Sites in Northern Belize. PhD Dissertation for The University of Texas at Austin.
  24. ^ Hester, Thomas R. and Shafer, Harry J. 1994. The Ancient Maya Craft Community at Colha, Belize and Its External Relationships. In Archaeological Views from the Countryside: Village Communities in Early Complex Societies. Edited by G. Schwartz and S. Falconer. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. pp. 48-63.
  25. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin.
  26. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin.
  27. ^ Valdez, Fred (Jr.). 1994. The Colha Ceramic Complexes. In Continuing Archaeology at Colha, Belize: Studies in Archaeology 16. Edited by T. Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of texas at Austin
  28. ^ Anthony, Dana S. 1987. Analysis of the Preclassic Households Beneath the Main Plaza at Colha, Belize. Master's thesis for the University of Texas at Austin.
  29. ^ Potter, Daniel R. 1994 Strat 55, Operation 2012, and Comments on Lowland Maya Blood Ritual.In Continuing Archeology at Colha Belize: Selected Papers from the 1983 and 1984 Seasons. Studies in Archaeology, No. 4, edited by T.R. Hester and H.J. Shafer. Texas Archeological Research Laboratory.
  30. ^ Valdez, Fred R. 1987 The Ceramics of Colha. Doctoral dissertation for Harvard University, Cambridge. pp. 130-131.
  31. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin
  32. ^ Valdez, Fred (Jr.). 1994. The Colha Ceramic Complexes. In Continuing Archaeology at Colha, Belize: Studies in Archaeology 16. Edited by T. Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin
  33. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin, p. 87.
  34. ^ Eaton, Jack D. 1994 Archeological Investigations at the Main Datum Mound, Colha Belize. In Continuing Archeology at Colha, Belize, edited by T.R. Hester, H.J. Shafer, and J.D. Eaton, pp. 99-108. Studies in Archeology 16. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory.
  35. ^ Valdez, Fred (Jr.). 1994. The Colha Ceramic Complexes. In Continuing Archaeology at Colha, Belize: Studies in Archaeology 16. Edited by T. Hester, H.Shafer, and J.Eaton. Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin
  36. ^ Buttles, Palma J. 2002. Material and Meaning: A Contextual Examination of Select Portable Material Culture from Colha, Belize. Dissertation for University of Texas at Austin, p. 87.
  37. ^ Meadows, Richard. 2001. Crafting K'awil: A Comparative Analysis of Maya Symbolic Flaked Stone Assemblages from Three Sites in Northern Belize. PhD Dissertation for The University of Texas at Austin.
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