Intro to Structure B4

STRUCTURE B4
Temple B4 is a smaller structure located on the southeastern side of the B Plaza at the site of Cahal Pech. While 2 other buildings were built on top of the currently conserved building, they were in too poor of shape to renovate. The temple that is currently visible was built in the late pre-classic period and dates back to before 1000 B.C.E. Structure B4 is a prime example of how the Maya built numerous structures on top of one another.
Before the conservation by archaeologist Joseph Ball, Structure B4 was actually 13 different structures built on top of one another. In 1988, B.V.A.R. and A.F.A.R began excavations on structure B4, and excavations have continued on the structure for over half of the archaeological seasons up until today. In the 2013 archaeological season, plans have been made to re-conserve Structure B4, as Dr. Jaime Awe (Director of The Belize Institute of Archaeology) is not happy with the current level of conservation.
Looting has historically been an issue at Cahal Pech, and B4 was a victim. Most of the looting was done at Cahal Pech between the 1970's and 1980's. At structure B4, there was evidence of a looters trench that spanned the completely through the structure. Luckily for archaeologists, the looters missed a burial by about 10 centimeters. In terms of artifacts, many significant clues have come out of B4. To start, burial remains help confirm that Cahal Pech was occupied around 1200 B.C.E, making Cahal Pech one of the few Maya sites with occupation stretching that far. The burial itself was exhumed from a previous spot, and placed in the temple. Within a square laid out by bones (representing how the Maya saw the universe,) was a skull, with two jade beads, within a pot, with a matching pot on top. The two pots on top of the skull were designed to represent a cave. On each of the four sides of the burial was a figurine. The burial was supposed to represent that, like the maize god, this individual would one day be resurrected. Another interesting find from Structure B4 was the largest collection of preclassic figurines found in Belize, and the Maya lowlands. Over 1,000 figurines have been found.
Description by Matt McDonough--Davidson Day School Class of 2013, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Class of 2017

[@hughlamb9575]

Dr Jaime Awe is always awesome leaving his knowledge for all.. thks doc...

[@geraldinejuan3454]

this was very helpful for my tour guide classes!!! thanks a lot!!!