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FACELESS HIERARCHY AT NIXTUN-CH'ICH’, PETEN, GUATEMALA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2019

Timothy W. Pugh Open the ORCID record for Timothy W. Pugh [Opens in a new window] ,
Evelyn M. Chan Nieto  and
Gabriela W. Zygadło
Timothy W. Pugh*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Queens College, Flushing, New York11367
Evelyn M. Chan Nieto
Affiliation:
Proyecto Itza
Gabriela W. Zygadło
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Queens College, Flushing, New York11367
*
E-mail correspondence to: [email protected]
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Abstract

Societies vary in how they approach the challenges of increased population, inequality, and occupational specialization. The city of Nixtun-Ch'ich’ and its satellite, T'up, in Peten, Guatemala exhibit orthogonal urban grids—a trait absent from all other known Maya cities. Such grids require extensive planning and the ability to mobilize the population. The present data suggests that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ was substantially larger than any of the surrounding settlements and was, therefore, a primate center during the Middle Preclassic period. The extensive urban planning of the site, as well as that of T'up suggests centralized planning. Yet, we have not encountered evidence of a central ruler propagated as a unifying symbol of the polity. The gridded public streets and lack of a rulership cult suggest that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ had a more collaborative social system.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , Fall 2020 , pp. 248 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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