Effects of hurricanes, mudslides, flooding, and riverine erosion on the erasure of archaeological sites in tropical, highland Honduras

Abstract

Site destruction and obfuscation are significant processes that hinder archaeological interpretations. This article focuses on a few natural taphonomic agencies impinging on archaeological site preservation in highland Central American settings. Precipitation and drainage are especially crucial in these riverine environments. Access to water for consumption and agriculture were vital factors in the determination of settlement patterns. Over time, a mixture of both gradual and catastrophic processes ranging from moderate rainstorms to hurricanes are known to trigger flooding, riverine erosion, and landslides with the potential to destroy or obscure vulnerable valley sites. Examples are given of Classic Period (A.D. 200–900) archaeological sites from the Cucuyagua and Sensenti valleys in western Honduras affected by catastrophic weather events during occupation and after site abandonment. Mudslides and landslides, in particular, are highlighted as significant destructive processes that remain under‐discussed in regional literature. Furthermore, we highlight the possible causal role of hurricanes in provoking both landslides and flooding. Finally, we consider the impact of these events in our particular study area.