ABSTRACT
The history of the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, has been a subject of debate in archaeology, epigraphy, and art history for more than a century. Despite abundant scholarly attention, little agreement has been reached on a coherent chronological framework for the site. Contradicting chronologies based on hieroglyphic inscriptions, ethnohistorical sources, ceramic typologies, architectural styles, and absolute dates have been proposed. Such alternative chronologies reflect past and current interpretations of ancient Maya history. Nonetheless, they often limit new understanding. In this chapter we review existing chronologies of Chichen Itza and attempt to resolve some of the inconsistencies among them. We combine different lines of evidence with data from recent stratigraphic excavations of the Great Terrace, employing Bayesian calibration of radiocarbon determinations to generate a more precise chronology for the site. The results of our analysis refine our understanding of the dynamics of occupation at Chichen Itza during the ninth, tenth, and early eleventh centuries AD. Future research should be aimed at elucidating initial settlement of the site during the Preclassic and Early Classic periods, exploring a possible temporary decline during the first half of the tenth century, and understanding the collapse of Chichen Itza during the eleventh century.
