Analysis and Conservation of a Wooden Figurine
Recovered from Xmuqlebal Xheton Cave in Southern Belize, C.A.

Discussion of the Radiocarbon Dates

A total of four AMS radiocarbon dates were obtained for Xmuqlebal Xheton (Figure 7). Calibration of corrected dates was by OxCal v.3.5, following atmospheric data from Struiver et al. (1998). They provide information on the use of subops A and B. Two dates are especially significant for interpreting the deposition of the figurine, that of the figurine itself and a date from Subop B, Lot 3. Based on ceramic evidence it is thought that the nearby surface site, Muklebal Tzul, likely dates to the Late Classic (ca A.D. 600-900), and was largely abandoned before the middle of the 10^th century A.D.

The dates from sealed tombs in the Muklebal Tzul settlement support this chronology with a 68.2% confidence of dating between A.D. 650 and 730 (AA40675) and A.D. 600 to 720 (AA40676). At Xmuqlebal Xheton, the AMS date of the figurine has 68.2% confidence range of A.D. 680 to 810 (AA36481). The context directly below the wall niche from which the figurine was recovered (suboperation A, Lot 3) dated, with 68.2% confidence, to A.D. 560 to 645 (AA40681). However, either or both of these dates may be slightly obscured by old wood effect.

Other dates from the cave indicate a long use history prior to the deposition of the figurine. A date from less then 5 meters away from the figurine (Lot 4), in an area with heavy burning of ceramic fragments (likely the result of burning incense) is considerably older. It provided a 68.2% confidence range from A.D. 70 to 250 (AA40680). This is earlier than the suspected occupation of Muklebal Tzul, though the nearby site Ek Xux may have been occupied towards the end of that range. Several AMS dates from that site are from the Early Classic period, including both cave and surface site contexts. A final date from the cave (Suboperation B, Lot 1) clearly predates any known settlement in the region south of the Stann Creek Valley (see Graham 1994), and is the earliest date for cultural material in southern Belize. The dated artifact is a large (.5 kg) wood fragment burned on one end, that was likely a part of a torch. It dates, with 68.2% confidence to 810 to 590 B.C. (AA40682). This is clearly either the result of early pilgrimage activity to the cave or an older piece of wood that was utilized by visitors to the cave. None of the ceramics recovered from the cave are diagnostic of the Preclassic. However, the majority of the ceramics recovered are from jars forms that are not yet temporally diagnostic.

Previous Page  |  Table of Contents  |  Next Page

Return to top of page