The Archaeology of Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza's urban growth, architectural development, and interactions with surrounding sites are now better understood through a synthesis of ceramic analysis, stratigraphy, paleoclimatology, and hieroglyphic decipherment. This study resolves long-standing debates about its Terminal Classic or Postclassic classification by integrating multiple lines of evidence, offering a refined timeline for construction phases and cultural transitions. The research challenges traditional narratives by providing new data on settlement patterns and ethnohistoric sources, shedding light on the site's political and economic dynamics during Mesoamerica's Late Classic to Early Postclassic periods.

Volta, B., May, N. P., & Braswell, G. E. (2017). The Archaeology of Chichen Itza. Landscapes of the Itza. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9780813054964.003.0002