Alternative narratives and missing data: refining the chronology of Chichen Itza

A refined chronology for the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza, based on Bayesian calibration of radiocarbon determinations from recent stratigraphic excavations at the Great Terrace, offers a more precise framework for understanding its occupation dynamics during the 9th to early 11th centuries AD. This study integrates multiple lines of evidence—hieroglyphic inscriptions, ethnohistorical sources, ceramic typologies, and architectural styles—to address inconsistencies in previous chronologies. Key insights include the potential temporary decline of Chichen Itza in the mid-10th century and its eventual collapse in the 11th century. Future research is directed toward elucidating earlier settlement phases during the Preclassic and Early Classic periods.

(Ed.). (2014). Alternative narratives and missing data: refining the chronology of Chichen Itza. The Maya and Their Central American Neighbors, 376–422. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315798288-26