Developments in Ceramic Materials Research

Postclassic Maya Ceramic Advances 5
living there in the seventeenth century and successfully avoiding Spanish recognition” (Jones
1998:11).
Figure 1. Map of the Postclassic archaeological sites from central Petén and western Belize discussed in
the text.
Additionally, A.D. 1584 and A.D. 1688 lists of married residents record Can (Kan) as the
most prominent name in Hocaba and Sotuta and Ek’ commonly occurs in the Cehpech and
Cochuah provinces (Roys 1957:Table 1). Although this indicates a later migration of Itza to
central Petén, many scholars (Boot 1997, 2005; Rice et al. 1996; Schele and Grube 1995;
Schele et al. 1998; Schele and Mathews 1998) state that epigraphic and archaeological
materials suggest that Itza origins might have been in central Petén in the Classic period, and
portions of the Itza may have begun migrations to and from northern Yucatán as early as A.D.
900. Regardless of their migration history, the Itza were present at Lake Petén Itzá when
Cortés traveled through Petén on his way to Honduras in A.D. 1525 (Cortés 1976:219-285).
Itza architecture is characterized by formal open halls, raised shrines, and architectural
sculpture that include raptorial birds, coyotes, serpents, and small phalli and turtles (Pugh
1996:206-211; D. Rice 1986, Rice et al.1996). Associated with the temple structures on an
east-west axis are caches of east-facing human skulls placed in rows or caches of two human
crania (Duncan 2005). Similar associations of architecture and crania are found at Chich’en
Itza (Duncan 2005; D. Rice 1986; Rice et al. 1996).
The Kowoj controlled the northeastern area of Lake Petén Itzá and the east-central Petén
lakes (Lake Salpetén, and possibly Lake Yaxhá and Lake Macanché) (Jones 1998). They
claimed to have migrated from Mayapán around A.D. 1530; however, they too may have had
a series of earlier migrations to and from Mayapán, of which one occurred after the fall of that
site (ca. A.D. 1450) and the last may have been ca. A.D. 1530 (Cecil 2001, 2004; Rice et al.
1996). Petén Kowoj kinship patronyms were linked to those of prestigious individuals at
Mayapán (Jones 1998:Table 1.1; Roys 1957:Table 1) and the Chilam Balam of Chumayel
stated that the guardian of the east gate of Mayapán was a Kowoj (Roys 1933:79).