The archaeological site of Colha is located in a chert-rich zone of northern Belize about 60 kilometers north of Belize City. It is primarily known for its Maya occupation, although the area was first occupied by Archaic hunter-gatherers probably around 3400 BC.
The Maya occupied Colha for a very long time, beginning with the Middle Preclassic period (between about 900-300 BC) through the Middle Post Classic (AD 250). Colha has evidence of some of the oldest chocolate consumption (ca 1000-400 BC) in Mesoamerica. Stone tool making, particularly obsidian craft working, was extremely important at Colha. There were over 4 million stone implements recovered from 36 workshops within the site core. These stone tools were also exported elsewhere; of particular note are the many lithic eccentrics created there.
Archaeologists estimate the most populated period of Colha's history was during the Late Preclassic (250 BC-AD 250), when the stone tool workshops were in full force. At least 600 people lived at Colha during this time, and the site included paved plazas, a ball court and various public buildings.
Archaeologists associated with Colha include Norman Hammond, Thomas R. Hester, Harry J. Shafer and R.E.W. Adams, among others.
Sources
This glossary entry is part of the Guide to the Maya Civilization and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Brown DO, Dreiss ML, and Hughes RE. 2004. Preclassic Obsidian Procurement and Utilization at the Maya Site of Colha, Belize. Latin American Antiquity 15(2):222-240.
Dockall JE. 1994. Oval biface celt variability during the Maya Late preclassic. Lithic Technology 19(1):52-68.
Santone L. 1997. Transport Costs, Consumer Demand, and Patterns of Intraregional Exchange: A Perspective on Commodity Production and Distribution from Northern Belize. Latin American Antiquity 8(1):71-88.
Shafer HJ, and Hester TR. 1983. Ancient Maya Chert Workshops in Northern Belize, Central America. American Antiquity 48(3):519-543.
Shafer HJ, and Hester TR. 1986. Maya stone-tool craft specialization and production at Colha, Belize: reply To Mallory. American Antiquity 51:158-166.
White CD, Pohl MED, Schwarcz HP, and Longstaffe FJ. 2005. Isotopic Evidence for Maya Patterns of Deer and Dog Use at Preclassic Colha. Journal of Archaeological Science 28(1):89-107.
