Investigating an Inland Maya Port:
The 2003 Field Season at Trinidad de Nosotros, Petén, Guatemala

Discussion

Although the 2003 season at Trinidad was only the first of several anticipated seasons, and the analysis of artifacts is currently ongoing, a number of early observations and preliminary conclusions can be offered from the available data. These are described, by topic, below.

Trinidad’s Occupational Chronology

One of the pleasant surprises of the 2003 season was the density and complexity of archaeological deposits at Trinidad. Most test excavations encountered long and complex sequences of construction and modification. The frequency of multiple superimposed sealed contexts and high densities of artifacts will, with continuing analysis, permit the creation of a very detailed chronology for Trinidad.

Although the analysis of ceramics from Trinidad is far from complete, analysis to date suggests that Trinidad had an exceptionally long occupation with several major peaks. The Late Classic occupation of Trinidad is the most visible at the site and most of the major architectural groups have a Late Classic component. Many of the major residential groups at the site date to the Late Classic and are highly comparable to those found at Motul de San José. Construction of the site’s port facilities was also, minimally, initiated during this period.

The extent of the site’s Late Classic occupation obscures, however, a long and extensive Preclassic occupation. Most deep pits in 2003 encountered structures, floors, middens, and other features dating to the Preclassic. Further, it is likely that construction of most of the major platforms at the site was initiated during the Preclassic. Although the ceramic sequence for Preclassic materials from Trinidad has not yet been finalized, it is likely that the major Preclassic peak in occupation at Trinidad occurred during the transition from the Middle Preclassic to the Late Preclassic.

Secondary occupations at Trinidad date to the Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic periods. Terminal Classic materials were found frequently throughout the site and it is likely that at least some of Trinidad’s major buildings were constructed or substantially modified during this period. Early Postclassic materials were likewise found throughout the site in surface contexts, but were particularly concentrated along the shore and in the site’s port area where several Postclassic residences were identified. Although "Protoclassic" and Early Classic materials were also recovered at Trinidad, low artifact frequencies suggest that these were comparatively light occupations.

Finally, Trinidad may also have a rare pre-Mamom early Middle Preclassic occupation. Several possible pre-Mamom sherds were recovered in contexts directly atop bedrock in 2003. The identification of such an early occupation at Trinidad would be consistent with the results of recent research at the sites of Nixtun Ch’ich’ and Ixlú by the Proyecto Maya-Colonial (P. Rice 1996:247-286) and at the nearby site of Buenavista by the Motul de San José Project (Castellanos and Guffey 2002; Foias 2004). Confirmation of a pre-Mamom occupation at Trinidad will, however, have to await further excavation and comparative analyses.

The Late Classic Occupation of Trinidad de Nosotros

Although much work remains to be done in order to understand the Late Classic relationship between Trinidad de Nosotros and Motul de San José, recent research permits some preliminary observations. First, Late Classic residential groups at the two sites are highly comparable. Residential groups in central Trinidad are similar in terms of plan, labor investment, and architectural style to those found in central Motul. Further, it is notable that the principal residential groups at both Motul de San José and Trinidad de Nosotros were constructed in the "temple on the east" architectural arrangement identified at Tikal as Plaza Plan 2 (Becker 1971, 2003).

In terms of monumental and public architecture, however, the two sites differ significantly. At Motul de San José and most of its other nearby satellite centers, the principal ceremonial structures are eastern temples. In contrast, the principal structure at Trinidad is a pyramid facing towards the south. Further, the identification of a ballcourt at Trinidad is particularly interesting in that no ballcourts have been found at Motul de San José. Although some variation between the two sites’ public architecture can be accounted for by Trinidad’s longer occupation, most of the major architecture at Trinidad appears to have had a Late Classic component.

One possibility that will be explored in future research is that Trinidad de Nosotros may have been a special function extension of Motul de San José during the Late Classic. If the ballgame functioned as a "boundary maintenance mechanism between polities," as has been suggested by a number of authors (Gillespie 1991:340; Santley et al. 1991), then the presence of a ballcourt at Trinidad may signal a special political or politico-religious function for the site within the Late Classic Motul polity. Further, if, as appears likely, Trinidad functioned as Motul’s principal trading post and gateway on Lake Petén Itzá, then its public architecture may have religious or ideological functions differing significantly from that found in central Motul and most of its other nearby satellite centers.

Understanding Trinidad’s Port Function

Prior to the 2003 season, Trinidad de Nosotros’s role as a port could be inferred only from its strategic location, potentially artificial port facilities, and historical usage. Excavations in Trinidad in 2003, however, determined that much of the port area, including those features actually delineating the harbor, were wholly or partially artificial. The construction of the inner harbor wall and the modification of the "peninsula" breakwater, for example, appear to have been underway by as early as the Late Classic period. Additional excavations in the port area will be necessary to better understand the development of Trinidad’s port facilities.

The relatively large quantities of exotic goods and materials recovered in 2003 provide some additional confirmation of Trinidad’s function as a port. The raw frequencies of exotics should not be overemphasized, as these data have not yet been standardized and, further, represent almost 2000 years of occupation. Early indications are promising, however, as over 600 obsidian artifacts were recovered at Trinidad during the 2003 season. Obsidian provides one of the most useful indicators of trade activity, but additional exotic goods and materials, including marine shell, non-local chert, and ceramic trade wares, were also recovered in notable quantities.

Future research will test the hypothesis that Trinidad functioned as a specialized trading port during several phases of its occupation. Trading ports were involved in both the transportation and local distribution of trade goods and are frequently identified by high densities of exotic goods and materials (Andrews 1990; McKillop 1996). Based on preliminary indicators, such a port function may be indicated for Trinidad de Nosotros during its Middle-Late Preclassic and Late Classic occupations.

Previous Page  |  Table of Contents  |  Next Page

Return to top of page