L’art de bâtir à Río Bec (Campeche, Mexique)
Since their discovery, at the end of the 19th century, the architectural remains of the Río Bec region (Campeche, Mexico) have been repeatedly observed, described and interpreted. However, despite all the attention they have received, little research has been done and published concerning their construction. Archaeological reports and publications sometimes devote a few lines to this topic, but almost all of these have focused primarily on formal and decorative features, with the main objective of defining stylistically and chronologically the architectural tradition to which they belong. The present study aims to approach the Rio Bec architecture in a different way by exploring its technological dimension. Through the analysis of the quarries found at the eponymous site, the thorough examination of the architectural remains situated in their surroundings, and the petrographic characterization of the surviving building materials, this study attempts to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire employed by the builders. It offers a presentation of the means and methods used in each stage of this chain, from the selection and acquisition of the raw materials to the completion and inauguration of the buildings, including the processing and shaping of the materials, as well as the conception, execution and evolution of each component of the buildings. Such an approach provides fresh insights not only into this unique architecture, but also into the organization of construction activities and labor in this part of the Maya lowlands.
Maya Rio Bec Architecture Building process Quarries Building stones Mortar Outillage Tools Builders