Tzibte Yux

Tzibte Yux, Tzib Te Yux, or Tzib'te Yux, is a Preceramic rock shelter and archaeological site in the Rio Blanco National Park, Toledo, Belize. It is thought to have been occupied by Palaeoindian settlers during 10500 BC – 6500 BC.

Tzibte Yux

Longitudinal diagram of Tzibte Yux / excavation units 1–9 labelled / 2019 Prufer et al. / via PLOS ONE
Tzibte Yux Show map of Belize Tzibte Yux Show map of Mesoamerica
Alternative name	Tzib Te Yux Tzib'te Yux
Location	Rio Blanco National Park, Toledo, Belize
Region	Yucatan Peninsula
Coordinates	16.22918291312578°N 89.09335790400635°W / 16.22918291312578; -89.09335790400635
Type	Rock shelter
Length	121 ft (37 m)
Width	14.8 ft (4.5 m)
History
Founded	10500 BC
Abandoned	6500 BC
Periods	Preceramic
Cultures	Palaeoindian
Site notes
Discovered	2009
Excavation dates	2012–2015
Archaeologists	Keith Prufer / Uxbenka Archaeological Project
Ownership	Public
Management	Institute of Archaeology
Public access	Limited

Description

Tzibte Yux is a rockshelter measuring some 121 ft (37 m) long and 14.8 ft (4.5 m) wide at its widest point.^[1] Its entrance, protected by a silicified limestone and conglomerate overhang, sits some 26 ft (8 m) above Blue Creek during the dry season, though this decreases to less than 6 ft (2 m) during the wet season.^[1] Its floor is relatively flat and composed of sediments, predominantly jute snail shells deposited by former pre-Columbian inhabitants.^[2]

Fishtail- and Lowe-style stemmed bifacial points have been recovered from Tzibte Yux, the former dated 10450 cal BC – 10085 cal BC, the latter 8275 cal BC – 6650 cal BC.^[3][4] Human remains have also been recovered from the rock shelter.^[2]

Study

Tzibte Yux was discovered by the Uxbenka Archaeological Project in 2009.^[5] Subsequently, nine blocks or units, ie Units 1–9, covering some 194 sq ft (18 m²) of the rock shelter's floor, were excavated to a mean depth of some 2.5 ft (0.75 m) during 2012–2015.^[6] A piece of charcoal found at the bottom of a red clay layer in Unit 1, some 23 in (58 cm) below the floor's surface, was dated to 10571 cal BC – 10526 cal BC. Most material in other units produced dates within 10500 cal BC – 6500 cal BC, though Unit 7 yielded a later date of 890 cal AD – 975 cal AD at 18.5 in (47 cm) below surface.^[7]