Urban Development in Maya Lowlands: A case study from the Calakmul Region, Southern Campeche, Mexico

by Dr. Kathryn Reese-Taylor

Presenter bio:  

Kathryn Reese-Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary. Her principal research focuses on remote sensing, landscape archaeology, urbanism, and the development of complexity in the Maya lowlands. Reese-Taylor has directed archaeological projects in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico and published numerous articles, chapters, and reports, often with collaborators and students. Her current project is a multidisciplinary program of research located in southern Campeche focused on the region surrounding Calakmul.

Talk Summary:

In this presentation I will discuss the emergence, florescence, decline, and revitalization of the Bajo el Laberinto urban landscape from 1000 BCE to 1460 CE, with an emphasis on the distinct settlement patterns and land management strategies that resulted in exceptional and long-lasting prosperity. The study area surrounds the Bajo el Laberinto, a major wetland in southern Campeche, and is focused on the city of Calakmul, one of the largest and most significant cities in the Pre-contact Americas. The study was initiated in 2011 and since 2014 many lidar surveys have been undertaken over ca. 270 square km. Archaeological excavations have afforded new insights regarding the long-term urban development, landscape modification, and environmental management within the region.