Cancuén Regional Archaeological Project: Highland-Lowland Influence and Exchange along a Geographical Boundary

El Achiote

The site of El Achiote (Figure 8) is a small village of approximately 40 structures located on the high east bank of the Pasión River 2.8 kilometers south of Cancuén. Settlement focused on three ridges or hills roughly equidistant from the highest hill at the site. No evidence of construction was found atop this hill but it likely served a ritual function as a lone stela is located on the west side of the hill. The stela seems to have been plain but the front (downhill) face is eroded and partially sloughed off. Most of the mounds at the site are very low. The densest concentration of settlement and the largest mounds are those located farthest from the river on high ground 150 meters northeast of the highest hill. Small clusters of mounds are located farther inland on other hills but an uncooperative landowner prevented additional study.

Nearly 50% of all mounds identified at El Achiote were tested. Deposits were quite shallow and, thus, the ceramic material is heavily eroded. The El Achiote ceramics are part of the Cancuén sphere and date to early facet Tepeu 2 (Bill, et al. 2002). Not surprisingly considering its proximity, El Achiote was a small village that was occupied while Cancuén was at its height.

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