Archaeologists have uncovered an unusual Classic Maya site in northern Belize whose carefully organized layout may reveal how Maya communities expanded during a period of population growth. The settlement, known as Tiho’witz, appears to have been largely built and occupied during the Late Classic period, when Maya civilization reached one of its demographic and cultural peaks.
The site was unknown to archaeologists until a lidar survey detected it in 2022. The laser-based technology allows researchers to identify structures hidden beneath thick vegetation. Similar lidar research recently revealed 26 Maya ballcourts in northwestern Belize.
Researchers visited Tiho’witz in 2023 to verify the lidar findings and conduct test excavations. Lead author Tomas Gallareta Cervera and colleagues describe it as a moderately sized minor center associated with the much larger Maya site of Chan Chich.
Unusual layout sets Tiho’witz apart
Tiho’witz lies about 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) west of Chan Chich and appears to have occupied the eastern edge of its wider political territory. Previous research at Chan Chich has revealed evidence of changing Maya trade networks through the study of obsidian artifacts.
Five hills dominate Tiho’witz, creating what researchers describe as an amphitheater-like setting. Four major courtyard groups occupy hills surrounding a central plaza. From above, the arrangement forms a cross-like pattern known as a “quincunx.” The four courtyards roughly correspond to the cardinal directions, while the plaza marks the center.
Researchers suggest the layout was deliberately planned and may have reflected Mesoamerican ideas about direction and space.
Temple, ball court and roads shaped the center
The central plaza contains some of the site’s largest structures. A temple pyramid about 39 feet (12 meters) high stands on its eastern side, while other substantial buildings frame the plaza.
Archaeologists also identified a ball court. Tiho’witz is one of five minor centers with ball courts associated with Chan Chich. The Maya ballgame carried religious and political significance beyond its role as a public activity.
A raised Maya road, or “sacbe,” extends about 1,066 feet (325 meters) south and southwest from the main plaza. A shorter road connects the plaza with a courtyard on the northern hill. Both roads follow a similar orientation. Researchers said their alignment with surrounding buildings points to planning.
Excavations point to Late Classic occupation
The site’s design shares features with a broader Maya planning tradition that emphasized a north-south axis and relationships between public and enclosed spaces. However, Tiho’witz lacks one feature common at larger Maya centers. Archaeologists found no clear evidence of a major southern palace compound for a royal family and court.
Its smaller political status and relatively short occupation may explain that difference. Test excavations in the ball court, central plaza, and northern courtyard uncovered shallow archaeological deposits and few artifacts. Most areas showed evidence of only one floor level.
The pottery recovered largely dates to the Late Classic period, roughly A.D. 600 to 810. Researchers also identified some earlier Preclassic remains and a small number of possible Terminal Classic pottery fragments.
Population growth may explain Tiho’witz
The evidence suggests much of Tiho’witz may have been constructed during a concentrated period, making it a possible example of a largely single-period Maya center. During the Late Classic period, rural populations expanded around Chan Chich. Researchers suggest Tiho’witz may have developed as part of that growth. Other research in Belize has shown how Maya communities adapted settlements to challenging landscapes.
At Tiho’witz, builders used the natural hills to organize courtyards, roads, plazas, a temple, and a ball court. Its cardinal orientation and unusual quincunx layout suggest careful planning despite its status as a smaller center. Further excavations will be needed to establish when Tiho’witz was founded, how long it remained occupied, and why people eventually left the settlement.
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