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1. Early Pottery and Construction at Nixtun-Ch'ich’, Petén, Guatemala: Preliminary Observations

   https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2019.26  

   Rice, Prudence M. (June 2019, Latin American antiquity)

   Early occupation at Nixtun-Ch'ich’, on the western edge of Lake Petén Itzá, is dated by two ceramic complexes, K'as and Chich. These represent the Late and Terminal Early Preclassic or the early and late “Pre-Mamom” periods, respectively (ca. 1300–800 BC), including a “Transitional” period incorporating Nix Middle Preclassic (Mamom) pottery. Comparisons with complexes at other sites in the region permit the dating of 10 construction loci, including 3 in the civic-ceremonial core. Low late Pre-Mamom platforms were raised and expanded in Transitional and Early Middle Preclassic times, when they were elaborated into two E-Groups and a Triadic Structure on the central axis. This building activity is interpreted in terms of cooperative or corporate labor organization and related to evolutionary game theory. The ritual foundation of such organization is evident in the site's gridded layout based on a mythical world-creation crocodile. 

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2. Early Construction at Nixtun-Ch'ich', Petén, Guatemala: An Architectural-Footing and -Bonding Sample

   https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.12.040  

   Rice, Prudence M. (February 2018, Journal of archaeological science: Reports)

   The lowland Maya city of Nixtun-Ch'ich' (Petén, Guatemala) exhibits an atypical gridded layout featuring quadrilateral blocks of architectural construction, established in the Middle Preclassic period (~ 800–500 BCE). Early levels of some excavated structures revealed unusual dark-colored, sticky sediments used as architectural footings overlying limestone bedrock and as adhesives for binding construction stones. Physical, mineralogical, and soil nutrient (chemical) properties of two samples of this material were analyzed. The samples were found to be highly organic (high %LOI), and composed primarily of smectite clay. They are characterized by low green strength, marked swelling when mixed with water, and corresponding shrinkage on drying, suggesting low load-bearing capacity. Chemical analyses revealed a slightly elevated pH of 7.8 and high levels of six soil nutrients but low phosphorus, likely making the material unsatisfactory for agriculture. We conclude that these sticky organic clays, probably of lacustrine origin, functioned as bonding agents in early architectural construction. 

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3. The Postclassic Period at Nixtun-Ch’ich’, Petén, Guatemala

   Shiratori, Yuko; Pugh, Timothy (January 2021, Kodai Amerika)

   The archaeological site of Nixtun-Chi’ch’ is located on the Candelaria Peninsula on the western side of Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala. The site, covering over 2.5km², has been intermittently excavated since 1995 and contains more than 450 buildings. These investigations have revealed the long-term occupation of the site from the Middle Preclassic (800-400/300 BCE) to the present. The site’s Preclassic occupation was both intensive and extensive with the construction of many monumental structures and a gridded city plan. Unlike the abundant and recent coverage of the Preclassic period at NixtunCh’ich’, literature on the Postclassic period (950-1525 CE) is limited. This paper focuses on the Postclassic period whose occupations are scattered across the site above the Preclassic period constructions. The excavated Postclassic occupations are located outside of the central core of the site, mostly along the lakeshore. What was the situation at Nixtun-Ch’ich’ during the Postclassic period? What was the livelihood? We believe that combining archeological data with historical documents allows for effective investigation. Using both archaeological data and Spanish historical documents from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries we aim to answer these questions through a reconstruction of these architectural patterns and lifestyles of the people at Nixtun-Ch’ich’ during the Postclassic period. 

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4. FACELESS HIERARCHY AT NIXTUN-CH'ICH’, PETEN, GUATEMALA

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536119000105  

   Pugh, Timothy W.; Chan Nieto, Evelyn M.; Zygadło, Gabriela W. (January 2020, Ancient Mesoamerica)

   Abstract Societies vary in how they approach the challenges of increased population, inequality, and occupational specialization. The city of Nixtun-Ch'ich’ and its satellite, T'up, in Peten, Guatemala exhibit orthogonal urban grids—a trait absent from all other known Maya cities. Such grids require extensive planning and the ability to mobilize the population. The present data suggests that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ was substantially larger than any of the surrounding settlements and was, therefore, a primate center during the Middle Preclassic period. The extensive urban planning of the site, as well as that of T'up suggests centralized planning. Yet, we have not encountered evidence of a central ruler propagated as a unifying symbol of the polity. The gridded public streets and lack of a rulership cult suggest that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ had a more collaborative social system. 

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5. Early Construction of a Maya Sacred Landscape: The Sector Y “E-Group” of Nixtun-Ch’ich’ (Petén, Guatemala)

   https://doi.org/10.1080/00934690.2019.1656322  

   Rice, Prudence M.; Pugh, Timothy W.; Chan Nieto, Evelyn M. (November 2019, Journal of Field Archaeology)