Buenavista del Cayo Site

Buenavista del Cayo is a classic period Mayan urban center located in the Mopan River Valley of Belize. The site dates to 300-900AD and was used as a marketplace for merchants to sell material goods. Data suggests that the plazas were in use from the Middle Preclassic through the Terminal Classic Periods. The Maya lowlands fostered a diverse economy of individuals with different economic goals. Buenavista del Cayo attracted both merchants and consumers from other settlements in the surrounding valley. Evidence found at the site suggests that both practical and prestige items were sold at the marketplace, indicating the presence of both wealthy and poor individuals. Distinct platforms found in the plazas along with the differentiation of goods by material type support the theory that the site was used as a central marketplace in the Maya lowlands.

Archaeological site data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).