Life Along the Chixoy

An aerial view of the Chama Valley, showing the tributary Tsalbha River just before it meets the Chixoy River.

Artifacts found in the fertile Chixoy River Valley of the Alta Verapaz suggest that people have lived here over 2,000 years. By studying the objects they made and used, we can begin to understand the world in which they lived more than 1,000 years ago. In general, although the Maya in the Chixoy River Valley lived far from the major centers of Late Classic Maya civilization to the north, their daily lives were not significantly different from those of ordinary Maya everywhere. They farmed their fields, lived their lives, and made crafts in a family-centered environment.