Ancient Maya Procurement and Use of Chipped Chert and Chalcedony Tools at Marco Gonzalez, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Abstract

Archaeological investigations at the site of Marco Gonzalez on Ambergris Caye, Belize have revealed a long continuous occupation sequence extendingfrom at least the Late Preclassic into the Late Postclassic periods. This location, so rich in many marine-based resources and well placed to serve as a trading seaport, was completely lacking in suitable lithic raw material for chipped stone tool manufacture. Consequently, the Marco Gonzalez Maya developed complex strategies for the curation ofthe limited chert and chalcedony tools importedfrom the mainland. The inhabitants ofthis site focused on maintaining reusing and recycling the formal stone tools to reduce the rate oflithic raw material consumption and extend tool use-lives. They relied on the informal component ofthe assemblage for the further completion oftasks on the caye. To reconstruct the specific patterns of stone tool procurement and use at Marco Gonzalez, the lithic assemblage was examined in terms of tool typology, raw material types, reduction strategies, and tool functions based on microwear analysis.