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Ancient Maya Diet in the Three Rivers Region of Northwest Belize

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Ancient Maya Diet in the Three Rivers Region of Northwest Belize Ancient Maya Diet in the Three Rivers Region of Northwest Belize A thesis submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies and Advanced Research of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Anthropology of the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences 2013 by Denise E. Knisely B.A. Anthropology, Millersville University, 2007 B.A. History, York College, 1997 Committee Chair: Vernon L. Scarborough, Ph.D. Committee Member: Kenneth B. Tankersley, Ph.D. Committee Member: Brooke E. Crowley, Ph.D. ABSTRACT The goal of this thesis is to examine the diet of ancient Maya living in Northwest Belize using stable isotopic analysis of human bone collagen.. The specific area of study is within the boundaries of the Río Bravo Conservation and Management Area, a nature preserve in the Three Rivers Region. This conservation district includes 250,000 acres (~1,052 km2) of land and more than fifty ancient Maya sites. The Programme for Belize Archaeological Project (PfBAP) has conducted original research in this area since 1992 and has amassed a large collection of artifacts from sites that varied in size and socio-political complexity. The scope of this study includes two primary regional political centers - La Milpa and Dos Hombres, and seven associated satellite sites. This thesis analyzes patterns of intra-site hierarchy and heterarchy using stable carbon į13C) and stable nitrogen (į15N) isotope ratios obtained from human bone collagen from nine Maya sites. As these sites are geographically clustered and have similar access to dietary resources, I predicted that the individuals sampled will likewise have similar į13C and į15N values. As noted at similar Maya sites, the individuals in the Three Rivers Region should have consumed a diet consisting primarily of terrestrial animals and a mix of maize and forest resources. Beyond a few extreme outliers, this does seem to be the pattern of consumption in the majority of the sites sampled. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Vernon Scarborough. I cannot fully express what a pleasure and honor it has been to work with and learn from you during my time at UC. You are a gentleman and scholar in the finest sense of the word. Your patience, encouragement, and understanding helped me in more ways than just writing this thesis. The professional opportunities I experienced during graduate school will surely benefit me as I go forward in my archaeological career, wherever that may take me. Thank you so very much for everything. To my other committee members, Dr. Kenneth Tankersley and Dr. Brooke Crowley, I am indebted to you for helping me shape my thesis into something I can be truly proud of. You two were wonderful in keeping my writing on track and in-depth, yet succinct. I’m quite certain that it would not have been such a fine product without the two of you guiding me in the final process of writing and editing. Thanks also to Aaron Diefendorf of the Geology department who endeavored to enlighten a trio of clueless anthropology graduate students in the fine art of understanding isotopic analysis. I also want to thank Dr. Fred Valdez, Jr., for making my research possible. The research you and others have completed in Belize allowed me an incredible opportunity to delve deeply into the Maya of the Three Rivers Region. Though I have not personally met the archaeologists who unearthed the bones that I needed for my thesis, I would like to express my appreciation for their work, as it is the basis for my own. A special thank you to Dr. Lauri Martin for welcoming me into your lab in Belize and also to Brandon Lewis for all your help on Dos Barbaras and Gateway. iii Dr. Sarah Jackson and Dr. Linda Brown made it possible for me to gather my own samples during the summer field school at Say Kah. Thank you for the amazing experience, I enjoyed working with the two of you and the students you shepherded through their first field experience. To Holly Dorning and Meredith Coats, you guys were grand company on our solo trips to “town”, though you should really try to learn how to drive a stick shift! Michael Maddox and Jackie Jay, you were such a huge help when I collected my samples from Austin. To my fellow grad students, what can I say? You are all extraordinary and my life has certainly been enriched by knowing you. You helped me remember that not only did I need to work hard, I had to play as well. I have had more fun with you lot than I had in many years. So much for being a soccer mom! A very special thanks to my best friend, Ashley McCall. You have kept me sane, young, and enjoying this entire journey. I will gladly take up the mantle of co-dictator when you rule the world with a fuzzy orange fist. You and Jessica Hughes-Skallos have been instrumental in keeping me going through the final editing stages of my thesis. Last, but certainly far from least, I want to thank my fabulous family without whom I would have never pursued my dream of becoming an archaeologist. To my wonderful husband, Chris, who has stuck by me through thick and thin for twenty years, you are my anchor in every storm. Your support and encouragement has meant everything to me during my rather lengthy process of becoming me. My beautiful daughter, Rhianna, once argued with a school mate that, “of course moms go to college!” I was truly fortunate to have your help and understanding while going to grad school. It meant more to me than I think you know. And to my shining boy, Ayden, your love and little boy hugs made the chaos of our lives all worthwhile. I hope you are iv as proud of me as I am of you. I love the three of you more than anything in this world and look forward to the next great adventure in our lives! v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ..............................................................................................................................x List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1: Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Hypothesis ..............................................................................................................................2 Chapter 2: Theoretical Background .............................................................................................4 Historical Ecology ...................................................................................................................4 Resilience Theory....................................................................................................................5 Hierarchy, Heterarchy, and Complex Societies ........................................................................7 Chapter 3: Foundations of Nutritional Chemistry ..................................................................... 10 Isotopic Terminology ............................................................................................................ 10 Using Isotopes to Define Diet ................................................................................................ 12 Carbon Isotopes................................................................................................................. 13 Nitrogen Isotopes .............................................................................................................. 17 Isotopic Studies of Maya Populations .................................................................................... 19 Piedras Negras, Guatemala ................................................................................................ 19 K’axob, Belize .................................................................................................................. 21 Chau Hiix, Belize .............................................................................................................. 22 Chapter 4: The Río Bravo Conservation Area ............................................................................ 24 vi Geography and Environment ................................................................................................. 26 Culture History of the Three Rivers Region ........................................................................... 29 Middle Preclassic (ca. 900 - 300 BCE) .............................................................................. 29 Late Preclassic (300 BCE - 250 CE) .................................................................................. 31 Early Classic (250 - 550 CE) ............................................................................................. 31 Late Classic (550 - 840 CE) ............................................................................................... 32 Terminal Classic and Collapse (840 - 900 CE)................................................................... 34 Previous Archaeological Work in the Area ............................................................................ 35 Sites Included in this Project ................................................................................................
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