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C H A P T E R F O U R Archaeological Settlement Patterns 69 T he analysis of settlement patterns, the ways in which humans dispose themselves over the landscape, is a mainstay of archaeological interpretation (Willey 1953). Archaeologists commonly approach questions about changing political and economic hierarchy, population density, land use, and subsistence stress by comparing the distributions of different kinds of sites to their ecological setting.When settlement pattern research is applied to historical periods, however, we frequently find that archaeology and history do not tell the same story. An examination of the archaeological settlement patterns ofYaxcabá parish from the time of the Spanish conquest to 1900 reveals major changes in the use of different places on the landscape over time. With respect to the development of an agrarian crisis before the CasteWar,archaeological settlement patterns provide an important and independent source of evidence with which to assess these arguments. This chapter addresses three themes: (1) a description of the distribution of different kinds of sites in time and space, with particular attention to cultural ecology, economic and political functions , fluctuating occupational histories, population density, and architectural infrastructure; (2) an assessment of the similarities and differences between archaeological settlements and their characterization in documentary sources; and (3) an evaluation of the evidence for land pressure amongvariouscommunitytypesbyexamininghowpostindependenceagrarian legislation was implemented in the region. Although historical records do not permit a complete reconstruction of landholding inYaxcabá parish, the comparison of the locations of different communities, the amounts of land legally granted to them, and estimates of their populations offer evidence of tensions over land between some Maya agriculturalists and Creole cattle ranchers.1 70 / CHAPTER FOUR The Lay of the Land In both the pre-Columbian and Colonial periods on the Yucatán Peninsula, the most important factor affecting the choice of settlement location was the availability of water (Garza Tarzona de González and Kurjack 1980). The peninsula is a karst geological system formed by a recently emerged limestone platform whose northern third is composed of horizontal,Pliocene-era strata of limestone, marl, and gypsum (Isphording and Wilson 1973; West 1964). Surface streams and lakes are absent, and rainwater filters rapidly through the porous substrate to underground channels. Collapse of the surface rock above the subterranean channels creates dolines that expose the water table; these are known as cenotes. The karst plain is peppered with these features that constitute the most important water sources for humans and animals alike. In some cases the limestone parent rock collapses, but the base of the resulting sinkhole does not reach the water table. Soil accumulates and retains moisture in these depressions, known as hoyas or rejolladas,such that they become desirable locales for cultivation.Shallow depressions known as aguadas also provide water; the depressions form permanent ponds in situations where clay has sealed the fissures of the limestone substrate. Similarly, caves and fissures also provide fresh water.In the Colonial period,natural water sources were supplemented by digging wells through the limestone cap rock down to the water table. The karst plain is the largest of three distinct ecological zones in northern Yucatán. The other two are the coast and the Puuc hills (see West 1964). The northern and western coasts of the peninsula are characterized by barrier beaches that delimit lagoons and tidal swamps that were used for salt collection since pre-Hispanic times. The east coast typically consists of low cliffs and headlands with a string of coral reefs offshore. In contrast to the coast and the interior, the Puuc hills, located in the southwestern part of the peninsula, rise some 50 m above the surrounding plain. This zone has the best and deepest soils for cultivation, and the area contains numerous caves, aguadas, and cenotes. To the south of the Puuc range, elevation rises, and the topography gives way to a hilly karst zone around the city of Campeche. Yaxcabá is located in the interior karst plain, some 150 km from the north coast (see Figure 1.1 in Chapter 1). Variation in elevation is minimal across the surrounding area; the region as a whole lies about 25 m above sea level. Like most of northern Yucatán, the climate is classified as tropical wet and dry (Aw in the Koeppen system), with a pronounced rainy season from June to October and a long dry season from November to May.Rainfall varies across the peninsula such that...

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