A Short Walk from Paradise: Initial Excavations at the Ruins of Kaxil Uinic, Belize

Abstract

The summer of 2012 marked the first field season of excavations at the ruins of Kaxil Uinic in northwestern Belize. The goal of the investigation was to understand the site and its relationships to the nearby site of Chan Chich, the historic Maya village/chicle camp, and a nearby aguada. In the course of the investigations, the original map of the site was modified and two previously unidentified structures were added. The stela and altar at the site were also targeted for investigation to better understand the chronology of the site. Some structures were also investigated for this purpose. This thesis discusses what was found during excavation at the site and provides possible explanations for the nature of certain concentrations of artifacts found.