Societies vary in how they approach the challenges of increased population, inequality, and occupational specialization. The city of Nixtun-Ch'ich’ and its satellite, T'up, in Peten, Guatemala exhibit orthogonal urban grids—a trait absent from all other known Maya cities. Such grids require extensive planning and the ability to mobilize the population. The present data suggests that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ was substantially larger than any of the surrounding settlements and was, therefore, a primate center during the Middle Preclassic period. The extensive urban planning of the site, as well as that of T'up suggests centralized planning. Yet, we have not encountered evidence of a central ruler propagated as a unifying symbol of the polity. The gridded public streets and lack of a rulership cult suggest that Nixtun-Ch'ich’ had a more collaborative social system.

中文翻译：

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NIXTUN-CH'ICH'，佩滕，危地马拉

社会在应对人口增加、不平等和职业专业化挑战的方式上各不相同。位于危地马拉佩滕的 Nixtun-Ch'ich' 市及其卫星 T'up 呈现出正交的城市网格——这是所有其他已知的玛雅城市所没有的特征。这样的网格需要广泛的规划和动员人口的能力。目前的数据表明，Nixtun-Ch'ich' 比周围的任何定居点都要大得多，因此是中前古典时期的灵长类动物中心。该场地的广泛城市规划以及 T'up 的城市规划建议进行集中规划。然而，我们还没有发现中央统治者被宣传为政体统一象征的证据。网格化的公共街道和缺乏统治崇拜表明 Nixtun-Ch'