Middle Preclassic Excavations at Pacbitun 2022

Pacbitun is a Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of west central Belize. It lies approximately 21 kilometers south of Cayo’s capital, San Ignacio, and is about three kilometers east of San Antonio village where young glyph artist Frank Tzib lives. In fact, I visited the site with Frank and both of his parents.

Pacbitun is a medium-sized site located along the southern rim of the Belize River Valley region. It is situated in the foothills of the Maya Mountains at the juncture of two contrasting ecozones: the tropical rain forest and the Mountain Pine Ridge.

Pacbitun was inhabited for almost 2000 years, from ca. 900 BCE to 900 CE. It was first settled during the Middle Preclassic period as a small farming community likely drawn to the fertile soils, numerous tributaries, and diverse resources. The epicenter slowly expanded throughout the Classic period and eventually had over 40 masonry constructions, including temple-pyramids, “palace-like” range buildings, a ballcourt, five plazas, two lengthy causeways, and a number of smaller courtyard groups. The epicenter is also marked by the remains of 20 stelae and altars, three of which exhibited traces of carved Mayan hieroglyphic writing. These physical manifestations are clear indicators of a ranked society and an emerging elite class.

The 2022 excavations at Pacbitun, including Middle Preclassic housemounds dating back to 800 BCE, were back-filled the afternoon of the day we were there. You’ll only see them here! Please subscribe to our YouTube page.

Pacbitun Regional Archaeology Project (PRAP): https://pacbitunarchaeology.com/

Pacbitun whistle videos mentioned in the video at: https://pacbitunarchaeology.com/multi...