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AMCS Bulletin 12 — Chapter 2 25and evidence of wetland manipulation was identifiedwithin the Reserva Ecológica El Edén and gave riseto a number of related research projects (see Fedicket al. 2000 for an overview; see also Andersen 2001;Fedick, ed. 1998; Morrison 2000). Recently, focus hasshifted to the site of T’isil, which is located just southof El Edén reserve. As work progresses, new insightsinto the region’s early settlement history emerge(Amador 2001; Ceja-Acosta 2001; Ceja-Acosta andRissolo 2001; Fedick and Mathews 2001; Glover andAmador 2001; Mooney-Digrius 2001; Morell-Hart2001). Future research in the northern Yalahau regionwill include continued studies of community organizationat T’isil, an extensive settlement survey by JeffreyGlover and Fabio Esteban Amador, continuedanalysis of regional ceramics by Jorge Ceja Acosta,and further investigation of the purported transregionalsacbe by Jennifer Mathews (see Mathews1998, 2001).Figure 2.2. Map of El Naranjal (after Fedick and Taube1995:fig. 1.8).Research at the Region’s PeripheryThe nearest major civic-ceremonial center is Cobá,which is located approximately 35 km from the southernterminus of the Yalahau region (see map in figure1.1). Early work at the site was reported by Thompsonet al. (1932). For the results of subsequent researchprojects see Con (2000), Con and Martínez Muriel(1992), Folan et al. (1983), González Fernández(1975), Manzanilla (1987), and Robles Castellanos(1990). Robles Castellanos and Andrews (1986) suggestthat Cobá was the dominant polity of an easternsphere during the Terminal Classic. Mathews (1998)argues convincingly that sphere affiliations may havediffered greatly in northern Quintana Roo during theLate Preclassic to Early Classic periods. I would stressthat many of the questions concerning sphere designationand political organization during this earlyphase are “ceramics questions.” Mathews’ researchprovides a foundation from which formal, problemorientedanalyses of regional pottery can progress. Itshould be noted that the Middle Preclassic materialrecovered from the caves of the Yalahau region (anddescribed in Chapter 5 of the dissertation) provides apreliminary look into the region just beyond the Cobáperiphery, at a time before the emergence of this powerfulcenter.To the north of Cobá is the smaller site of PuntaLaguna (see Cortés de Brasdefer 1988) and to thenortheast is the major center of Ek Balam. MiddlePreclassic material was also recovered at Ek Balam(Bey et al. 1998) and the site was likely an importantpower during the area’s early settlement. North of EkBalam is a region defined by the Contact Period provinceof Chikinchel. This area, which borders thewestern edge of the Yalahau region, has been extensivelystudied by Susan Kepecs (1997, 1998; see alsoKepecs and Boucher 1996; Kepecs and GallaretaNegrón 1995). A consideration of the ceramics fromChikinchel is included in Chapter 5 of the dissertation.Few studies of the northernmost Caribbean coast(to the east of the Yalahau region) have been produced.Andrews and Robles (1985) describe excavations atthe site of El Meco and a description of the Ecab provinceis provided by Benavides Castillo and Andrews(1979). The sites of Cancún (to the south) were firstreported in detail by Lothrop (1924) and later researchon the island was conducted by Andrews IV et al.(1974). A review of the archaeological literature regardingthe Caribbean coast south of Cancún—as itpertains to coastal cave sites—is presented in the followingchapter.