Archaeological investigations by the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project at Cahal Pech uncovered several Terminal Classic (a.d.750–900) peri-abandonment deposits and activity areas at this Belize River Valley center. The deposits contained a diverse assemblage of cultural remains located above and between collapsed architecture, associated with evidence for burning activities. In the past, archaeologists have generally interpreted similar assemblages as “problematic deposits”—“de facto” refuse (garbage)—as associated with building termination and desecration, or as evidence for rapid abandonment during the violent destruction of these ancient cities. It is argued here that the microstratigraphic excavation and contextual analysis of these features provide limited support for these explanations. Alternatively, we suggest that the deposits are more likely associated with peri-abandonment rituals that were conducted by a reduced remnant population at Cahal Pech, or by small groups who continued to reside in the site's periphery during the last stages of the Terminal Classic period.

中文翻译：

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最后的欢呼：在伯利兹卡哈尔佩奇检查废弃矿床和活动的性质

Cahal Pech 的伯利兹谷考古侦察项目的考古调查发现了几个终端经典（广告750–900) 在这个伯利兹河谷中心的废弃矿床和活动区。这些沉积物包含位于倒塌建筑上方和之间的各种文化遗迹，与燃烧活动的证据有关。过去，考古学家通常将类似的组合解释为“有问题的矿床”——“事实上” 垃圾（垃圾）——与建筑物终止和亵渎有关，或作为在这些古城被暴力破坏期间迅速废弃的证据。这里有人认为，对这些特征的微观地层挖掘和背景分析为这些解释提供了有限的支持。或者，我们认为这些沉积物更有可能与 Cahal Pech 的残余人口减少或在末期经典时期的最后阶段继续居住在该遗址周边的小团体进行的围遗弃仪式有关。