Investigations at the fortified Maya center of Aguateca, Guatemala, have revealed an unusual case of large-scale rapid abandonment. Structures in its epicenter were burned and abruptly abandoned during an attack by enemies at the end of the Late Classic period (A.C. 600--830). The excavation of burned structures has recovered rich floor assemblages, providing excellent data sets with which to examine household organization and activities. The residents engaged in a wide variety of activities, including food storage, preparation, and consumption, as well as the work of scribes/artists. The excavated structures were probably occupied by single nuclear families or smaller groups. These co-residential groups appear to have constituted important social and economic units, which may be called households.