Ancient Maya Ceramic Economy in the Belize River Valley Region

The central goal of this study is to explore the structure and opreation of ancient Maya economies of the Late Classic Period (AD 700-900) through an examination of the proceses underlying the distribution of ceramic goods within the Belize river valley. Kay Sunahara uses petrographic analysis of selected recently excavated sherds to explore whether or not individual communities produced their own pottery from nearby resources, or instead particapated in a wider intra-vally excahange sphere, and whether or not these communities imported finished ceramics from regions beyond Belize.