Abstract This paper examines the spatial distribution of prehistoric Maya sites in Corozal District, northern British Honduras (Belize). Central to the analysis is the proposition that sites were located so as to minimize the effort expended in acquiring critical resources. The method is to isolate characteristics of the environment and to test their correlation with settlement distribution. The analysis includes both bivariate and multivariate tests. By using both kinds of tests, it is possible to suggest not only which characteristics were relevant to the selection of a location for settlement but also the relative importance of these characteristics. The analysis indicates that variables of soil, vegetation, and distance from navigable water are significantly associated with settlement. Also, the analysis brings out the phenomenon of settlement clusterings as it occurs in this region.
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