Maya Settlement Patterns and Land Use in Buena Vista, Cozumel, México

Main Transects

As mentioned above, 12 km of transects (brechas) beginning in the site center and bounding four quadrants were surveyed and mapped. All features over these transects were registered on the map (Figure 15):

North Transect:

Our point "0" was located in the southeast corner of the altar at the main central plaza. Eighty m to north we reached the limit of the main platform marked by a wall of the simple type 0.50-0.75 m high. From this wall to the point 300 (300 m from point 0) we found walls delimiting 10 plots of 1200 m² on average, these walls were also of the simple type with only a portion 30 m long of the complex type walls. From here to the point 800, we found seven plots larger than the first ones of 6500 m² on average, delimited with walls of the simple type. The lot in point 400 enclosed four round structures that we identify as beekeeping structures. They were identified this way because of the presence inside these circles of stone disks probably used to cap the borders of hollow logs used as beehives, in the same way that modern beekeepers do on the mainland (Figure 16, shown above, and Figures 17 and 18, shown below).

To the right side in point 500, we found a lot 1500 m² totally enclosed by walls of the complex type. From the point 800 to 1000, we found five lots of the same size as the first ones, 1200 m².  On average, these lots have wells carved in the limestone, probably for water reserve used in pot irrigation. Some of these wells have a cap stone used to close the aperture (Figure 19, shown below). Walls in these lots are of the simple type.

South Transect:

The main platform extends to south through the point 270 m.  At point 300, we found the first wall of the simple type. From here to the point 500, only three plots of 6000 m² on average were enclosed. All these plots have rejolladas, the largest rejollada of 50 m diameter located in the plot at point 300. Right of point 500, there is a 2000 m² plot delimited on three sides by the complex type of wall and on one side with the simple type. From this point to point 1000, eleven small plots 2000 m² on average were found. Most of these plots were delimited by walls of the complex type. Plots at point 750, 850, and 900 have a small circular platform about 5 m in diameter and 0.50-0.60 m high. At the end of the transect, there is a zone of akalches (bajos) traversed by walls of the simple type.

East Transect:

The main platform extends to the east to point 55.  There we found the beginning of a series of intercalated hills and low areas up to point 450.  Simple type walls are present above the hills, but not in the low areas. One 30 m diameter rejollada and a vaulted cave are located north of point 200.  From point 450 to 650, there is a zone of hills and low areas with complex and simple walls delimiting plots. A large number of rejolladas were registered here, and we selected this zone for extensive mapping (Zone 2). It will be described in the next section. From 650 to the end of the transect, we only found two simple type walls, but this area lay inside a zone used for cattle pasture by modern ranch farmers. In order to survey beyond this disturbed zone, we extended this transect to 1050 m.

West Transect:

The main platform extends to point 88 to the west; there we go down to a low zone 48 m wide. At point 150, we found a cenote enclosed by simple type walls. From here to point 300, there are three lots 4000 m² on average with masonry structures. South of point 300 is a zone of rejolladas enclosed by simple type walls. At point 350 in a low zone, we found a rejollada enclosed by walls of the complex type. Fifty m south of point 400, we found a group of five circular structures, three of them intersected by simple type walls and two of them inside a plot of 2000 m², next to this plot, a one-sided complex walled plot has a half-circle structure, where we found stone disks. From point 400 to 800, six large plots 5000 m² in average were registered. Plots decreased in size after this point to point 1000.  Several small wells were noted in this area.

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