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11.1. J. ERIC S. THOMPSON Excavations in British Honduras YB 33:95–98, 1934 As a joint project of the Field Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Institution of Washington, Mr. J. Eric Thompson visited northern British Honduras in the winter of 1934. The purpose of the expedition was to continue promising earlier investigations made in this region by Mr. Thompson, one of the specific objectives being to follow certain clues indicating the possibility of recovering archaeological evidence bearing on the muchdebatedquestionofthecorrelationbetweenMaya and Christian chronology. Recentstudyofthisproblemstronglysuggeststhat one of two proposed correlations is correct. According to that of Spinden, the Maya date 10.3.0.0.0, which is the latest so far found at Old Empire sites (Uaxactún, Naachtún, La Muñeca) and which is therefore thought to register a year shortly before the close of the Old Empire, corresponds to 639 A.D. Under the alternative Goodman-Thompson correlation, 10.3.0.0.0 should be 260 years later, or 899 A.D. Settlement of the correlation problem is eminently desirable, for as long as so serious a difference exists 11.0. Belize 385 between the two most generally approved systems, it is impossible to take full advantage of the remarkably complete chronological documentation of early Maya sites. Dates in the Old Empire Long Count are, it is true, accurate in relation to each other, and therefore correctly express lapses of time during the era in which they were in use. But until we are able to relate them, in terms of the Christian calendar, with the abbreviated dates of the New Empire, we can not properly interpret evidence bearing on the extremely important period of the abandonment of the southern cities and the rise of the great late centers of northern Yucatán. If the Spinden correlation be correct, one must allow, for the phenomenon of transition, over 250 years more than is required by that of Goodman and Thompson. And a full quarter of a millennium is a great amount time, when one is attempting to evaluate historical events or cultural changes In addition to its large significance for Maya research , the correlation of Old Empire with Christian dates is necessary for proper understanding of what T H E C A R N E G I E M A Y A 386 BELIZE took place in Middle America as a whole. The Maya calendar offers the only absolute chronological yardstickweareeverlikelytohaveformeasuringthegrowth and spread of cultures in that field. And unless we can be certain as to where that yardstick should be laid, it is of relatively little use. Attempts to solve the correlation problem have, to date, been founded upon two sorts of evidence: historical (post-Conquest records, Maya and Spanish), and astronomical (internal evidence from the monuments and codices). The archaeological attack has not yet been seriously undertaken. This holds considerable promise of success, for if it be true that either the Spinden system or that of Goodman-Thompson must be correct, it seems certain that intensive analytical study of Maya remains with thoroughgoing comparative work upon adjacent and allied cultures will enable us to decide whether the 250 year period should or should not be interpolated. Judgments as to short time-intervals can naturally not be made on the basis of archaeological findings; but they should certainly permit us to deal confidently with a span as long as the one in question. The following of an archaeological clue bearing on correlation was, as has been said, one of the objectives of Mr. Thompson’s work in British Honduras. The Field Museum expedition of 1931, under his direction , had revealed at San José, west of Belize and about 12 miles [19.3 km] from the Guatemala border, ruinscontainingpotteryofnon-Mayaancestry(though probably of Maya manufacture) which appeared to be of late date, yet which seemed to be associated with typical Maya wares of the Old Empire. Could this association be confirmed, it would of course argue for the correctness of the shorter Goodman-Thompson correlation. The excavations were accordingly planned and carried out with a view to recovery of all possible stratigraphic data. The ruins of San José consist of two ceremonial plazas of the usual Maya; that is, they are flanked by a series of mounds, some of which are surmounted by stone-vaulted rooms. The largest mounds attain heights of to 40 feet [12.2 m]. In addition to the main groups there are two smaller consisting of low house mounds facing small...

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