Archaeological Investigations in the El Paraíso Valley: the Role of Secondary Centers in the Multiethnic Landscape of Classic Period Copan

Archaeological investigations in the El Paraíso Valley, Honduras, reveal a novel model of political organization during the Classic Maya period (a.d. 400–900). The study identifies two proximate yet distinct centers—El Cafetal and El Paraíso—which, despite being contemporary and similarly sized, differ markedly in spatial layout, construction techniques, architectural decoration, open space utilization, and material culture. Analysis suggests that while El Cafetal represents an autochthonous population, El Paraíso functioned as an administrative outpost established by the Copan dynasty. This dual-site pattern reflects a broader strategy of sociopolitical integration employed by Copan rulers to accommodate ethnically diverse regions on the periphery of their kingdom.

Canuto, M. A., & Bell, E. E. (2013). ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE EL PARAÍSO VALLEY: THE ROLE OF SECONDARY CENTERS IN THE MULTIETHNIC LANDSCAPE OF CLASSIC PERIOD COPAN. Ancient Mesoamerica, 24(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0956536113000011