The Fifteenth-Seventeenth Century Lithic Economy at Progresso Lagoon, Belize

Abstract

This article examines the fifteenth–seventeenth century lithic economy at Progresso Lagoon, Belize, as a tool for understanding indigenous Maya motivations and conditions before and after Spanish colonialism. The lithic assemblage indicates a high reliance on recycled and refurbished tools from the former tool production center of Colha, and a decrease in the utilization of obsidian obtained through long-distance trade. The increase in projectile point production and use in the fifteenth century suggests conflict between Maya communities even before the arrival of Spaniards in the region. Alongside other archaeological evidence, the lithic material suggests that the Progresso Lagoon community was experiencing an economic decline and political tensions at the point of Spanish contact.

Keywords:

• Maya
• Belize
• colonialism
• production-consumption model

Acknowledgements

This research was completed as part of my Ph.D. dissertation from Northwestern University, with funding from the SUNY Albany Field School, Northwestern University, the National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (#0315331), and a dissertation grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (#7055). This research would not have been possible without the support of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, under the direction of John Morris, George Thompson, and Dr. Jaime Awe. I am grateful to the Belize Postclassic Project, under the direction of Marilyn Masson, for the opportunity to complete this research. I also extend thanks to the local communities of Progresso and San Estevan, where I lived while archaeological research was carried out, and to Victor and Sonya Ayuso y Espat, and Margaret Briggs, for opening their homes to me while I completed analysis. Artifact illustrations were drawn by Faith Oland and Peter Vamosy.

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Maxine Oland

Dr. Maxine Oland received her Ph.D. in Anthropology and a Certificate in Gender Studies from Northwestern University in 2009. She is currently a Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology and Art History at Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her interests include culture contact and colonialism, household archaeology, historical political economy, and the people and cultures of Mesoamerica.