Río Bec Settlement Patterns and Local Sociopolitical Organization

Abstract

Based on settlement patterns in the Río Bec micro-region, a study zone (100 km2) focused on the eponymous site, there is no evidence that any of the monumental groups underwent true processes of significant, sustainable nucleation on a broad sociopolitical level. This paper analyzes Río Bec settlement patterns in order to better understand why processes of agglomeration did not occur at the site. Our approach to this question consists of analyzing the spatial distribution of settlements in relation to their internal hierarchy, while taking in account evolution through time. The study was carried out at two different scales of analysis, and results are presented for both the “micro-region” and “nuclear zone” (159 ha) scales. The overarching objective of this contribution is to gain greater insight into the social dimensions of the processes that took place at Río Bec during the Classic period.

Living Together in Río Bec Houses: Coresidence, Rank, and Alliance

“…The tripartite ground plan (Christie 2003) is well represented, either in a simple form with three to five rooms in one row, or a complex form with tandem and transverse rooms (Harrison 2003). Superficially, complex tripartite buildings look like quadrangle palaces common at central lowland sites, but they were more difficult to buildbecause of vault transversal connections-and they conspicuously display their main façade while closed quadrangles rather hide façades (see Michelet et al [2013] for a detailed description of Edifice A). Each room has an entrance door centered in its façade, and most of them have an inner masonry bench fronting the door.…”

“…While they may have ensured social segregation, and even defense in some cases, quadrangles generally resulted from long building sequences, since adding one structure after the other on each of the patio's four sides was a logical option for growth (Breuil-Martinez et al 2004:80;Haviland 1988;Tourtellot 1988b). Among the Río Bec 72 monumental groups, however, closed quadrangles are scarce and even in the nuclear zone where smaller patio groups were recorded, structures on all four sides are uncommon (Figures 2-6) (see Nondédéo et al 2013: Tables 2 and 7). To build one's house outside of an already existing cluster was a frequently undertaken option, and this splitting process prevented the development of patio forms.…”

Chronology of the Río Bec Settlement and Architecture

“…Constructions occupied until the end of the sequence are few; for example, Group B was occupied throughout the Late-Terminal Classic periods. The spectacular growth of Río Bec style construction in Group C since Makan 2, its parallel evolution with Group B during the Terminal Classic period and their spatial proximity (Figure 2) suggest they could have formed a pair at the top of the hierarchy in the nuclear zone (see Nondédéo et al 2013). Locally, Groups B and C seem to reflect the "founding ancestors" principle discussed by McAnany (1995) and others; that is, that the earliest occupants become the most powerful, at the local level, across time.…”

Agrarian Features, Farmsteads, and Homesteads in the Río Bec Nuclear Zone, Mexico

“…Second, on the interfluves some features, particularly rectilinear structures, quite clearly compartmentalize space (Figures 2a and 2b). The third characteristic of the Río Bec landscape is the wide diversity of its The 45 HUs located in the 50 ha study area each include at least one lone house, or one house with a separate kitchen Nondédéo et al 2013). In the unit hierarchy established by Arnauld and colleagues (2013) for the nuclear zone, 10 of the 45 units are assigned Rank I to Rank III, each one including at least one Río Bec-style monumental building; 24 to Ranks IV-V, each with at least one vaulted residence; and, 11 to Rank VI, with one unvaulted house (rarely two).…”

“…Note: this ranking is valid for Makan 2-Xpuhuk 1 subphases and was established independently from the present analysis (see Nondédéo et al 2013); Early dwelling units are not included; "Late" = unit founded later in Xpuhuk phase.…”