Late Postclassic Zooarchaeology of Lake Mensabak, Chiapas, Mexico
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One Foot Out the Door: Late Postclassic Zooarchaeology of Lake Mensabak, Chiapas, Mexico BY CALEB KESTLE B.S., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004 M.S., University of Illinois at Chicago, 2006 THESIS Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Chicago, 2021 Chicago, Illinois Defense Committee: John D. Monaghan, Chair and Advisor Vincent M. LaMotta Anna C. Roosevelt Donna J. Nash, University of North Carolina, Greensboro Joel Palka, Arizona State University ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Though starting a dissertation with a series of acknowledgments is a standard practice in academia, it seems a fitting introduction for a dissertation that centers the concept of relational ontology. Things exist because of the relationships that undergird their production, and this dissertation is therefore not a product of my labor alone, but also the physical and emotional labor provided by a network of people whom I have been fortunate to find myself amongst. There is no real way to hierarchize this list, nor should there be. Nonetheless, below I have adopted the standard order that dissertations generally follow, moving from the most professional to the most personal. And yet, even this order proves difficult because the two have become largely indistinguishable over the course of my journey. A fact for which I am grateful. I must first acknowledge the members of my committee. My chair, Dr. John Monaghan, who took on this position late. I remain grateful for his doing so, as it is only one of the many ways he has provided necessary material support for me throughout the writing of this dissertation. Moreover, as someone long engaged in Mesoamerican cosmology, he has proved an invaluable resource for my research long before taking on this role. I am also grateful for his capacity to wed a dark sense of humor with a friendly and open demeanor. It is a way of inhabiting this world that I strive to emulate as I too age. My former chair and first outside member, Dr. Joel Palka, also provided critical material support for the advancement of this dissertation. His long-standing engagement with the Lacandon community of Metzabok—the ejido adjacent to Lake Mensabak—made this dissertation possible. And his willingness to allow me to access faunal remains from excavations beyond my own provided the data that makes the bulk of this dissertation. Moreover, Joel was amongst my first contacts with anthropology as an undergraduate. His early engagement and support were critical influences on my decision to ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued) pursue a degree in anthropology. In a similar vein, Dr. Anna Roosevelt was also a major figure in kindling my early interest in anthropology. Her decision to let me—an undergraduate clad in a Hawaiian tee-shirt and ripped up pants—assist in her lab was without a doubt the start of my interest in tropical ecology and society. Dr. Donna Nash continues to be a source of both material and great moral support for me. I still think fondly on her attempts to “poach me for Peruvian archaeology” early in my graduate studies. And, I still look forward to any chance of hearing her impart good-sense judgment in her ruthlessly humorous style. Finally, and there is no good reason for him to be last on this list, I must thank Dr. Vince LaMotta. Vince has been my primary guide in learning the ins and outs of faunal analysis. In helping me on this journey he has given so much of his time, more than I can ever repay. And, on a personal note, he is a man with impeccable taste in music. Though I still don’t understand the band Yes, after our conversations I do see its influence on so much of the music I currently love. Several granting agencies and sources of income have made this research possible. Funding for this dissertation was largely from a grant secured by Dr. Joel Palka from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Palka graciously allowed me to direct some of the excavations covered by his grant towards my research interests. My own funding largely came from a combination of the University of Illinois at Chicago Provost Deiss Award for Doctoral Research, and the University of Illinois at Chicago Chancellor’s Award for Doctoral Research. In addition to these funding sources for research I am also grateful to the organizations that funded my ability to make a living while pursuing my studies, including: The Department of Anthropology at UIC for numerous appointments as teaching assistant or course instructor; the Henry Jackson Foundation for several years as a research assistant; and finally the Lansing iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued) Central School District for providing me flexible employment necessary to complete my research. I would also like to thank the wonderful people of LCSD for providing me a much- needed sense of community for a number of difficult years. The community of the town Metzabok played an immense role in making this dissertation possible. The entire community has given me nothing but love and support in the time I spent there. And this support was felt at its most on the occasions where I was otherwise a lone researcher in a shed with a pile of animal bones. On many occasions people from the community would not only break up the monotony of such days but also provide me with much needed insight and fresh opinions. In no particular order I would like to give thanks to the following individuals: Enrique Valenzuela Martinez, Mincho Valenzuela, Don Rafa, Jose Angel, the Valenzuela sisters Mari, Tomasina, Cecilia, Amalia and Araceli, as well as Freddy, Armando, Chankin, Amado, Rosa, Fernando, Umberto, Lazaro, and my little Death Metal buddy Raul. Thank you all; the time I spent with you means so much to me. Perhaps when the COVID thing is over I can finally visit you all again, this time solo para pasar. Beyond my committee there are several other professors whom I would like to thank for their support over the years. Dr. Susan deFrance and the late Dr. Christopher Gotz both provided me with help in my studies of zooarchaeology as well as generous access to their type collections—real and digital. The late Dr. Lawrence Keely played an early role in encouraging my interest in archaeology, and still provides an endless set of memorable quotes both humorous and pointed. Dr. Cynthia Robin provided my first opportunity to do archeological fieldwork. Dr. Andrew Wyatt, who has been both a mentor and a friend over the years. I still have the drawing his daughter and I made of dinosaurs in my office at home. Dr. Laura Junker has helped me iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued) make numerous contacts that are part of my new research project. And Dr. Molly Doane, who has been generous in tolerating my presence in her classes over the years. Numerous colleagues have played an important role in the development of this dissertation. I would like to extend a particular thanks to several people in my original cohort. Including: Jim Mierhoff, Larisa Smith, Alex Markovic, Matt Schauer, and Jen Starbird. I would also like to thank the old drinking circle—including the teatotalers—who spawned many note covered napkins, and the people whom I would regularly time vampire: Erin Rice, Rebecca Deeb, Johnny, Billy Ridge, Dave Reid, The Original Katerina, Damian Peoples, Dr. Mama Nicky, Kathy Rizzo, Melanie Kane, Ryan from Sociology, John Hicks, Rory Denison, Rebekah Ciribassi, Kevin The Anarchist, Ben Linder, Pamala Whyms, Emily Baca, Aditi Aggarwal, Jozi Chaet, and Shilpa Menon. Finally, there are colleagues who have transcended the boundary between friend and kin. Dipti—mother of our plant babies—who is the first to hear almost any of my hairbrained ideas. One of the few people I have allowed to see me at my most burned out, and one of the fewer people who has shown nothing but love and support when I am in such a state. Also, the one more likely to murder my entire birth-family in Among Us. Thank you. The Katy, we have been ride-or-die a long time now. I am so grateful that you are technically my cunyada by Bolivian standards. There is no one who has had more of an influence on my reading or thinking than you. Jim, what is there to say other than “buy the ticket, ride the ride.” I’m lucky you have been around since our first trips to Belize. Eron, you are my brother man, you and your lovely husband Kris have always been there. Eric, I’m glad that we understand one another enough that v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (continued) no matter how much time passes between meetings we never skip a beat. I am a come-and-go kind of raccoon, and you are among the few people who truly understand it. And finally, I need to thank my biological family, who in my mind is no different than the loved ones in the previous paragraph. I need to thank my dad for instilling a love of nature and travel in me. My mother, for teaching me how to be stoic with a laugh. Josh, for being my oldest friend. And his spouse Jay for being way cooler than him. Aaron, for sharing the weird road of academia. His spouse Cynthia for tolerating his journey but also being a needed anchor for the extended family. Their three children, for reminding me dinosaurs are awesome. And Steve, for forcing me to explain my research and interests in plain English.