Sampling Cerros' Demise: A Radiometric Check on the Elusive Protoclassic

A Summary Chronology

Early Tulix (400 - 50 BCE)
Cliff and Crane (1989) detailed a five-part developmental sequence for the Cerros economy, most of which dealt with the early facet village. They noted the small agrarian village began to grow accretionally after construction of a dock facility (Str. 2A-Sub 2) and the appearance of reef fish in the faunal remains. Both data sets indicate the existence of an outward-focused community with sufficient ocean-going marine technology to take advantage of their protected coastal locale. Economic evidence indicates that they integrated fairly well into the regional economy, importing even foodstuffs later on. Eventually material indications of wealth appeared in household remains and burial goods. Toward the end of the era, stone block buildings first appeared, including Str. 2A-Sub 4-1st. The public dock went unused at that time, as elites began to control access to labor and services. It was at the very end of the era, around 100 BCE, that the work program at the Structure 5 triadic group was initiated. This portion of the site core may have contained multiple smaller civic buildings, such as 6A-Sub 1, which is now buried below plaza level.

Late Tulix (50 BCE - 150 CE)
After 50 BCE, the dramatic and rapid construction of several monumental-scale pyramidal groups happened within a generation or two, so short a time span that one family might have controlled or overseen it all. Structure 6 might have been their seat of power, consecrated by the royal jewels cached under Structure 6B.  The data support long-distance trade as the vehicle for expansion (cf. Garber 1989; Mitchum 1994) and perhaps a closer relationship with Petén cities, such as El Mirador (Reese-Taylor and Walker 2002). With the resources of a city the size of El Mirador, Cerros elites would have been able to fund their construction projects much more easily. Structure 4 began to take its present form sometime after 1 CE, about the same time modification ceased on Structure 6.  Although it lacks a radiocarbon date, Structure 3A-2nd (Reese 1996) must have been constructed about the same time. Structure 3A-1st, based on a paucity of remains, may have been left unfinished at the end of Late Tulix construction, which seems to have been about 100 CE.

Early Hubul (150 - 250 CE)
Toward the end of Late Facet Tulix, times became quite difficult at Cerros. Perhaps El Mirador's trading partners all suffered as its influence began to wane. There is no evidence for substantial construction at Cerros after 100 CE, and, in fact, some buildings may have been ritually terminated and abandoned before then. By El Mirador's collapse at 150 CE, Cerros had lost most of its population, and new construction was limited to small buildings in the peripheral settlement (Scarborough 1991; Walker 1990). No dates are available from these constructions.

Late Hubul (250 - 400 CE)
While no radiocarbon dates were obtained, occupation dating to this era has been documented within and outside the canal perimeter at Cerros. Households were more dispersed across the landscape in this era, and population was quite low. There are no signs that occupation continued past 400 CE.  It appears residents may have moved across the bay to Santa Rita, which saw substantial Early Classic growth (Chase and Chase 1988), or off into the forest further removed from Cerros. After this, Cerros lay unoccupied until the end of the Classic era.

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