UC San Diego

This thesis seeks to develop a ceramic chronology of the site of Lubaantun, Belize. The material analyzed was recovered by TRIP archaeologists and spans all occupational periods of the site. Because the site was occupied for less than two centuries, the uniformity in the ceramic material recovered precludes the material being divided beyond the singular Columbia Complex. Nonetheless, based on the subtle shifts in vessel form and decoration, as well as the introduction of two new types during the Terminal Classic, the Columbia Complex has been divided into an early and late facet. Based on these differences, I argue that connections with the southern Peten waned during the Terminal Classic, and the residents of Lubaantun were forced to seek exchange ties elsewhere, particularly to the north. These results hint at a shifting economic and political landscape during the Terminal Classic, and have important implications for studying the interregional connections between sites in the Southern Belize Region.