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.

Description

Tzibte Yux is a rockshelter measuring some long and wide at its widest point. Its entrance, protected by a silicified limestone and conglomerate overhang, sits some above Blue Creek during the dry season, though this decreases to less than during the wet season. Its floor is relatively flat and composed of sediments, predominantly jute snail shells deposited by former pre-Columbian inhabitants.
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. Human remains have also been recovered from the rock shelter.

Study

Tzibte Yux was discovered by the Uxbenka Archaeological Project in 2009. Subsequently, nine blocks or units, ie Units 19, covering some of the rock shelter's floor, were excavated to a mean depth of some 2.5 ft during 20122015. A piece of charcoal found at the bottom of a red clay layer in Unit 1, some 23 in 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 below surface.