Chipped Stone Tool Use in the Maya Coastal Economies of Marco Gonzalez and San Pedro Ambergris Caye Belize

A highly detailed analysis of stone tools recovered from excavations at two sites on the coral island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, which revealed evidence for continuous occupation on the island from c.100 BC until well into the Historic period. Studying the use-wear of tools provides a clear picture of the ways in which the Maya exploited the island's natural resources, notably fish, shell, coral and salt, while comparison of the sites shows the level of interaction between communities. The study includes a tool typology and discusses lithic technology, raw materials and the archaeological context and distribution of the assemblages.