A Teotihuacan Neighborhood at Tikal, Guatemala | Edwin Román Ramírez

In Mesoamerica, the presence of foreign neighborhoods has been identified, primarily at the site of Teotihuacan and at some sites in the Maya region, such as Montana on the South Coast and Kaminaljuyu. However, in the Maya Lowlands, it has been somewhat more difficult to locate neighborhoods of non-local people, possibly due to the few studies focused on this topic. In this talk, new evidence recovered by the South Tikal Archaeological Project (PAST) will be presented, including architectural, ritual, ceramic, obsidian, and construction methods that are atypical of Tikal's traditions. This evidence suggests that approximately 200 meters south of the area known as the Lost World, there once existed a neighborhood associated with Teotihuacan culture. This neighborhood includes a large platform (the South Platform) on which a water reservoir, two elite palaces, three smaller houses, and a ceremonial group were built from 250 to 500 AD.

Email for more info: Adrian.natale@yale.edu