The Early/Middle Formative Kanocha Phase (1200-850 B.C.) at Blackman Eddy, Belize
James F. Garber, M. Kathryn Brown, and Christopher J. Hartman

The 2001 Field Season

The primary objectives of the 2001 BVAP field season were to: (1) determine the extent of bedrock-level postholes observed in previous field seasons; (2) investigate any associated deposits and features and; (3) firmly establish a chronology for these bedrock deposits through ceramic and radiocarbon analyses.

Previous excavations had not exposed sufficient areas of bedrock to clearly discern any posthole patterns. The removal of the remaining portions of Structures B1-5th, 6th, and 7th revealed an extensive series of bedrock level buildings and associated features. Ceramic and radiocarbon analyses, firmly establish a construction date for these buildings and features in what we have defined as the Kanocha Phase (1200-850 B.C.) (Table 1 and Table 2). This phase pre-dates the early facet Jenny Creek phase, the earliest phase recognized at the nearby site of Barton Ramie (Gifford, 1970; 1976; Sharer, 1976; Willey et al., 1965).

The terminal Early Formative and early Middle Formative sequence at Blackman Eddy consists of a bedrock level occupation evidenced by a series of postholes cut into bedrock and low apsidal tamped-earth platforms that supported pole and thatch buildings (Figure 5). These are designated Structure B1-8th through 11th. All appear to be circular or apsidal in outline. A piece of pole-impressed daub plaster with a trace of a red hematite stripe was recovered in the excavations. A Cunil phase building at Cahal Pech, B4 10c-sub, was decorated in a similar manner (Awe, 1992). These first occupants modified bedrock by leveling and filling in low areas. In some areas bedrock was used as a living surface. Midden material immediately to the south, associated with what was probably the final phase of the postholes, contained lithic debris, ceramics, and numerous freshwater shells.

Although the construction sequence of Structures B1-8th through 11th could not be determined with absolute certainty, B1-10th and 11th probably preceded the construction of B1-8th and 9th both of which are elevated platforms representing a relatively higher input of labor. B1-10th and 11th are both bedrock level buildings. Structures B1-8th and 9th are probably contemporaneous.

Similar early deposits have been found at Cuello, Colha, Nakbe, and Cahal Pech (Awe, 1992; Powis, 1996) and Pacbitun (Hohmann et al., 1999; Hohmann and Powis, 1999). At Cuello, the initial occupation is marked by cultural debris mixed and impacted into the old ground surface associated with postholes excavated into bedrock (Gerhardt and Hammond, 1991). The earliest architectural features found at Nakbe consist of hard packed earthen floors overlying a buried paleosol level (Hansen, 1998). Postholes carved into bedrock were also associated with these early constructions. Like the initial occupation at Blackman Eddy, these constructions were built directly on the ground surface. In the case of Blackman Eddy, low areas of the ground surface appear to have been filled in. Radiocarbon samples from the initial occupation at Nakbe consistently range between 1400 B.C.-1000 B.C. calibrated (Hansen, 1998). These dates are consistent with the radiocarbon data from Blackman Eddy (Table 2).

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