Overview
During our 1995, 2006-2008, and 2013-2014 seasons at Nixtun-Ch’ich, we encountered Preclassic period (ca.1000 BC-AD 200) constructions in nearly every test unit excavated. It was clear that the site’s most substantial constructions occurred before AD 200. In 2013-2014, Proyecto Itza remapped the site and found that it contained an urban grid. In 2015, Proyecto Itza began to intensively investigate the Preclassic period occupations along with our work on the Postclassic period.
Objective
Since 2014, Proyecto Itza has been focused upon the Middle Preclassic period (800-300 BCE) settlement of Nixtun-Ch’ich’. The occupation of the site began before 1000 BC, when a ceremonial area was built at the end of the peninsula (Str. ZZ1). Sometime between 800 and 450 BCE, a massive gridded city was constructed to the west of the peninsular area. Our initial work investigated four aspects of the Middle Preclassic component of Nixtun-Ch’ich’: (1) the construction history of the gridded roads; (2) its hydrology including surface drainage and artificial pools; (3) its ritual architecture; and (4) its domestic groups. Next, Proyecto Itza examined the role of Nixtun-Ch’ich’ and the capital of a Middle Preclassic period polity. Future work will focus upon the Late Preclassic period (300 BC-AD 200) occupation of Nixtun-Ch’ich’, which appears to have been more intense than that of the Middle Preclassic period.
