Investigations of Middle Preclassic Public Architecture at the site of Blackman Eddy, Belize

Structure B1-5th

Str. B1-5th was constructed directly on top of Str. B1-6th. Due to its size, complexity, and associated ritual deposits, Str. B1-5th clearly served a public non-domestic function. The bulldozing activity destroyed the western half of the structure but, assuming symmetry, the structure would have had a triadic form composed of a main central structure and two smaller structures flanking it to the west and east (Brown and Garber, 1997) (Figure 6). The central component is a four stepped platform that rises 1.48 meters above the associated plaza surface. The eastern component is composed of two low tiers. Both the central and eastern components of Str. B1-5th were covered with a layer of hard lime plaster. The central and eastern platforms were primarily constructed of a wet laid small rubble fill with pockets of sticky marl overlying layers of dry laid rubble.

Radiocarbon and ceramic analysis suggests that this structure dates to approximately 650 B.C.  A radiocarbon date was obtained from charcoal recovered within the construction fill below the central component. The results yielded a date of (Beta-103956) 2480 +/- 60 BP calibrated to 795-400 B.C. (2 sigma). Ceramically, the sherds of the construction fill closely parallel the early facet Jenney Creek complex at Barton Ramie and the early Kanluk complex at Cahal Pech. Recovered ceramics include ash-tempered Savana Orange wares, several Cunil types, unslipped wares that appear to be precursors to Jocote Orange-Brown, true Jocote Orange-Brown with fillet decoration and wares with pre and post-slip incising. Also of importance, an ash-tempered Savana Orange stirrup spout sherd was found within the construction fill.

B1-5th appears to have been an earlier form of the triadic architectural arrangement that was prevalent during the Late Preclassic period (Brown and Garber, 1998). The triadic arrangement of architecture appears to reflect the Maya Worldview and may symbolize the three stone place of creation. Str. B1-5th is the earliest triadic architectural arrangement found to date in the Maya Lowlands. The elaborate architecture and triadic arrangement of Str. B1-5th may have implications for the nature of complexity during the early Middle Preclassic.

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