The ancient Maya and their sacbeob -- Ichmul and its sacbe system -- Yo'okop and its sacbe system -- The sacbe constructed -- Types of sacbeob -- Sacbe system variability -- Functions of sacbeob -- Explaining sacbe presence and absence -- Sacbeob as a terminal classic phenomenon in the Cochuah region -- Explaining sacbe system variability in the Cochuah region.

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"In White Roads of the Yucatan, author Justine Shaw presents original field data collected with the Cochuah Regional Archaeological Survey at two ancient Maya sites, Ichmul and Yo'okop. Both centers chose to invest enormous resources in the construction of monumental roadways during a time of social and political turmoil in the Terminal Classic period. Shaw carefully examines why it was at this point - and no other - that the settlements made such a decision. She argues that both settlements used the sacbeob as a method of socially integrating the largest, most diverse and dispersed population in the Cochuah region. She further demonstrates that their use of the sacbeob, in concert with other innovative strategies, allowed Ichmul and Yo'okop to outlast many of the sites that they may have sought to emulate and to flourish during a time of tremendous sociopolitical and economic change."--Jacket.

Description based on print version record.