Ancient Maya Cities in the Eastern Lowlands: The Kingdom on the Edge of History

Abstract: Although not as well known as the Maya ruins in the heartland of Guatemala and Mexico, the ancient Maya cities of the eastern lowlands in the modern nation of Belize are part of an important urban tradition that thrived for nearly 1,000 years. Besides the longevity of the Maya urban tradition, ancient Maya cities are remarkable for their diversity in terms of size and layout. In this presentation, Dr. Houk summarizes the results of a multi-year study of Maya cities in Belize, highlighting such topics as the origins of Maya urbanism, the function of Maya cities as an integral component of the Classic-period system of divine kingship, and what we can learn from the differences between cities