Archaeological research at Aguateca was conducted as a subproject of the Petexbatún Regional Archaeological Project of Vanderbilt University, directed initially by Arthur Demarest and Stephen Houston, and later by Demarest and Juan Antonio Valdés. The Petexbatún Project carried out multidisciplinary investigations in the Petexbatún region from 1989 to 1994 (Demarest and Houston 1989, 1990; Demarest, Inomata, and Escobedo 1992; Demarest, Valdés, and Escobedo 1995; Demarest et al. 1991; Valdés et al. 1993). Prior to the Petexbatún Project, investigations in the region documented numerous defensive walls, pointing to intensive warfare (Graham 1967; Houston 1987). Research by the Petexbatún Project attempted to gain a better understanding of the Classic Maya collapse, with a particular focus on the role of warfare (Demarest and Houston 1989).

Aguateca, located at the southern end of the Petexbatún region, possesses the most extensive and complex system of defensive walls in the region. Ian Graham (1967) first visited the site in the late 1950s, recording engraved monuments and producing a map of the site core. Stephen Houston later mapped a larger area of the site and reconstructed the dynastic history of Aguateca and Dos Pilas from the hieroglyphic inscriptions (Houston 1987, 1993; Houston and Mathews 1985).

Archaeological investigations at Aguateca by the Petexbatún Project commenced in 1990 under the direction of Inomata (1995, 1997). Field work during four consecutive seasons included detailed mapping of the site, test-pitting in various areas of the site, extensive excavations, and general survey in the site peripheries. The results of this research demonstrated that most occupation at Aguateca dates to the Late Classic period (A.C. 600-830). Extensive defensive walls were constructed in a hasty manner at the end of the Late Classic period, indicating the escalation of warfare (Demarest et al. 1997; Inomata 1997). Evidence suggests that Aguateca was finally attacked, probably at the beginning of the ninth century, and its epicenter, the area including the Palace Group, Causeway, and the Main Plaza, was burned by enemies. The entire center was almost completely deserted soon after this event.

The pattern of rapid abandonment was first detected in Str. M8-11 and M8-17, located along the Causeway and excavated by Inomata (1991) during the 1991 season. Field work during the 1993 season by Inomata (Inomata 1993b; Stiver and Inomata 1993) concentrated on the horizontal exposure of two structures in the same area, Str. M7-35 and M8-10, which are called "the House of the Niche" and "the House of the Scribe." The specific objectives of this operation was to test the hypothesis of the rapid abandonment of the epicenter and to study the organization and activities of Classic Maya households.

Since 1996, Inomata, Triadan, and Ponciano have been directing the Aguateca Archaeological Project with the objective of examining household organization and domestic activities through the extensive excavation of rapidly abandoned structures (Inomata et al. 1997).

The Aguateca Archaeological Project is deeply indebted to the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala for the permit to work at Aguateca and for their help.