This area contains numerous archaeological sites belonging to the Maya civilization, the most studied features of which are the raised field structures.

[1] Located north of Orange Walk in Belize is a Y-shaped settlement that makes up a series of complex elongated depressions.

The people of Pulltrouser built their small living structures on terraces 2–3 meters above the swamp.

[1] During construction of the canals and raised field system, it is believed Pulltrouser was simply a wet, non-forested area containing large amounts of water lilies.

Pineapple, tobacco, vanilla were also found at the swamp most likely for the easy transportability and market value.

[1] People likely settled around swamps because of the rich faunal, plant, soil and water resources this environment made available.

[2] Pohl et al. (1996)[2] suggest that the adoption of wetland agriculture was not a response to increases in population growth that created the need for more resources[1] but instead a reaction to the changes in groundwater levels they believe to have occurred around 1500–1300 B.C.

Aerial photography of ground patterns in Pulltrouser swamp has revealed that the Maya were utilising raised field agriculture in the area.

It has been suggested that these fields were in use from 400 BC-600AD, however this date could be biased due to repositioning of artifacts during the shifting of material in construction.

[3] There are approximately 311ha of well-defined patterns located along the mainland edge, which have been measured to be 1m above the surrounding depressions.

Unfortunately not enough organic material was recovered to conclusively show which crops or plants the Maya were using Pulltrouser Swamp for.

[3] Based on profiles, sediments and other information produced by excavation on the fields, Turner and Harrison[3] propose that the raised fields were created using the following steps: [3] Much of the sample ceramics recovered at Pulltrouser Swamp are too small to clearly establish ceramic sequence or detailed understandings.

The oval bifaces are made from chert sourced near the site of Colha, Belize; these tools have wear consistent with agricultural work and were most likely used as hoes.

There were also many different uses; the most prominent shells being mixed terrestrial gastropods that were used in construction materials as fill in the raised fields.