K'axob is an ancient Mayan archeological site located near town of Orange Walk in Orange Walk District Belize. K'axob was first settled by the Mayans during Late Pre- Classical Period around 800BC. The city went into decline after almost two millennia of existence. Although the exact cause of the catastrophe remains unknown it is possible that K'axob declined after failed crops caused widely spread starvation and subsequent disease outbreaks. K'axob existed until Early Post- Classical Period around 900AD.
K’axob was first excavated in 1979 and 1981 by B. L. Turner and Peter D. Harrison. The excavations were then taken over by Patricia A. McAnany in 1981, who is currently a professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The bulk of the research at the site was conducted from 1990-1998 and focused on social stratification, household structures and agriculture at K’axob. Research at the site is ongoing through Boston University and is funded by The National Science Foundation. Patricia A. McAnany continues to the primary investigator, with aid from graduate and undergraduate students and in collaboration with other universities and the Belize government. Analysis is conducted both at the field lab at the site in Belize as well as at central lab at Boston University.