REHABILITATING BECÁN

Abstract Research in 1970 vaulted Becán to prominence on the landscape of great Maya centers. Mapping, excavation, and ceramic stratigraphy revealed that its enigmatic earthwork, first recorded archaeologically 1934, was a fortification built at end Preclassic period. Large-scale warfare thus unexpectedly turned out have very deep roots lowlands. The site's wider implications remained obscure, however, absence dates other inscriptions. ever-increasing dependence historical iconographic information our narratives, along with invisibility buildings plazas, unfortunately marginalized Becán. Some colleagues even claimed we misinterpreted both nature earthworks (not fortifications) their dating Preclassic). We rehabilitate by dispelling these claims showing standard archaeological evidence, contextualized what know today, has much say about Becán's role lowland culture history. identify intervals crisis when earthwork useful long after it originally built, especially during hegemonic struggles Snake Tikal dynasties, introduce new lithic data settlement history political entanglements. Our most important message is inscriptions iconography, for all dramatic chronological detail agency, must always be complemented fieldwork.