Developmental Dynamics, Energetics, and Complex Economic Interactions of the Early Maya of the Mirador-Calakmul Basin, Guatemala, and Campeche, Mexico

By no later than 600–400 B.C., the late Middle Preclassic period, the Mirador-Calakmul Basin in northern Guatemala and southern Campeche, Mexico, witnessed the emergence of a state-level society characterized by complex economic interactions. This conclusion is drawn from archaeological evidence including long-distance exchange systems, sophisticated architecture, and advanced agricultural strategies. A mutually sustaining relationship between specialists and a governing elite likely fostered innovation, with lasting implications for subsequent cultural development spanning over a millennium. The study integrates developmental dynamics, energetics, and economic interactions to elucidate the foundational structures of this early Maya civilization.

Hansen, R. D., Forsyth, D. W., Woods, J. C., Schreiner, T. P., & Titmus, G. L. (2018). Developmental Dynamics, Energetics, and Complex Economic Interactions of the Early Maya of the Mirador-Calakmul Basin, Guatemala, and Campeche, Mexico. Pathways to Complexity. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813054841.003.0007