A small rural stopover along overland Maya and Aztec trade and travel routes was identified in surveys and excavations at adjacent settlements and shrines at Mensabak, Chiapas, Mexico. This collection of Late Postclassic to Spanish conquest-era (c. ad 1350–1650) Maya sites are similar in function to rural Old World and Andean caravan stopovers, such as caravanserai and way stations, where travellers and traders obtained supplies, trading partners, safety, solidarity through ritual and travel information along long-distance land routes. These sites are similar to trading ports and pilgrimage centres, but they are smaller, located in the countryside, not often managed by regional states, and have scaled-down economic exchange with fewer exotic trade items. Stopovers often include landscape and rock-art shrines for collective ritual among foreign travellers and local populations. While investigators have researched the anthropological importance of overland routes, caravans and trade centres, less attention has been given to stopover sites in the countryside. This article discusses the archaeological signatures and outlines the comparative social, economic and ritual implications of small rural stopover sites that united people on the road.

在墨西哥恰帕斯州门萨巴克的邻近定居点和圣地的调查和挖掘中，发现了玛雅和阿兹特克陆上贸易和旅行路线上的一个小型乡村中途停留地。这组后古典晚期到西班牙征服时代（约 公元1350-1650 年）玛雅遗址的功能与旧世界乡村和安第斯商队中途停留地类似，例如商队旅馆和中途站，旅行者和商人在那里获得物资、贸易伙伴、通过长途陆路沿线的仪式和旅行信息实现安全、团结。这些地点类似于贸易港口和朝圣中心，但它们规模较小，位于乡村，通常不由地区国家管理，并且经济交流规模较小，外来贸易项目较少。中途停留通常包括景观和岩石艺术神殿，供外国游客和当地人进行集体仪式。虽然调查人员研究了陆路、商队和贸易中心的人类学重要性，但对乡村中途停留地的关注较少。本文讨论了考古学特征，并概述了将路上的人们团结在一起的小型乡村中转站的相对社会、经济和仪式影响。