Raw Material Selection and Stone Tool Production: Limestone Bifaces in the Mopan Valley, Belize

Rachel A. Horowitz, Bernadette Cap, Jason Yaeger, Meaghan Peuramaki-Brown, Mark Eli

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Articlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stone tool producers in the Maya Lowlands had several types of raw materials from which to choose. Limestone, chert, and obsidian are the most naturally abundant, whereas chert and obsidian outnumber limestone in archaeological contexts. The presence of flaked-stone tools made of limestone is typically attributed to the scarcity of more suitable raw materials. Nevertheless, in chert-rich areas, such as the upper Belize River valley, limestone bifaces and production debitage are present. To understand their presence, we examine limestone biface production and use at Buenavista del Cayo.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)198-204
Number of pages7
JournalLatin American Antiquity
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar. 2019

Keywords

  • Maya
  • Palabras clavematerias primas
  • piedra caliza
  • utensilios líticos

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