11 Resilience and Vulnerability in the Maya Hinterlands

Abstract

Given their grand architecture, intricately carved monuments, and colorful histories, the largest Maya centers have long drawn the attention of archaeologists and non-specialists alike. Early interest in the infamous Maya collapse was, in fact, initially inspired by the discovery of these "lost cities in the jungle." This research focus was further stimulated by advances in deciphering the Maya hieroglyphic script, and the recognition that monument erection-or in other words, the written histories of most of the southern Lowland centers-came to a rather abrupt end in the 9th century C.E. IHOPE scholars are attempting to elucidate the conditions that lead to the decline of these impressive centers. In doing so, the trajectories of smaller communities, and or those located in hinterlands between the more prominent centers, have emerged as interesting counterpoints that provide unique, and no less significant, examples of resilience and vulnerability. The emerging data suggest that these communities had specific strengths and weaknesses, which in turn provided them with a particular set of challenges, as well as a specific range of coping mechanisms they could marshal when dealing with their ever-changing environment circumstances (i.e., climate change, resource availability, landscape modifications), and the highly dynamic geopolitical landscape within which they were embedded. This chapter will discuss some of the key insights derived from our examination of hinterland communities, with particular attention being paid to the broader implications of the contrasting trajectories exhibited by these segments of ancient Maya society. [archaeology, Maya, hinterland, innovation, resilience]

Examining Chronological Trends in Ancient Maya Diet at Minanha, Belize, Using the Stable Isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen

“…The Early Postclassic follows the fall of the Minanha kingdom; it is marked by a decrease in agricultural productivity and diminished agricultural centralization (Iannone, Prufer, and Chase 2014; Macrae and Iannone 2011). The Early Postclassic also coincides with an MDE (cal A.D. 1000–1175).…”

“…The courtyards associated with founding lineages demonstrate continued use from the Preclassic into the Postclassic (Schwake and Iannone 2016). The Postclassic populations left an archaeological “footprint not that dissimilar to their Preclassic and early Classic ancestors” (Iannone, Prufer, and Chase 2014:163). The Minanha Late to Terminal Preclassic sample includes isotope data for just one individual; however, his or her δ 13 C col is very close to the Early Postclassic average (Supplemental Table 4).…”

“…to A.D. 1200 (Iannone, Chase, et al 2014;Schwake and Iannone 2010) Caracol, Camp 6, Ixchel, Caledonia, and Caballo. Minanha occupies a strategically important position on the border of the political territories of two large Maya polities-Naranjo to the northwest and Caracol to the south-so its history was strongly shaped by the conflict and interaction of these two polities (Iannone, Chase, et al 2014;Schwake and Iannone 2016). The Minanha royal court was established in the Late Classic period (A.D. 675-810) and possessed several attributes suggesting that the ruling elite modeled their architecture and practices on the nearby center of Caracol.…”

“…This extensive research program has produced a detailed cultural sequence from 500 B.C. to A.D. 1200 (Iannone, Chase, et al 2014;Schwake and Iannone 2010) Caracol, Camp 6, Ixchel, Caledonia, and Caballo. Minanha occupies a strategically important position on the border of the political territories of two large Maya polities-Naranjo to the northwest and Caracol to the south-so its history was strongly shaped by the conflict and interaction of these two polities (Iannone, Chase, et al 2014;Schwake and Iannone 2016).…”

Agricultural adaptation to highland climate in Iron Age Anatolia

“…To gain deeper insight into the processes of regional expansion that create large territorial states, we first need to understand how farmers moving into new environments, potentially with dramatically different climatic conditions from their homeland, adapt familiar agricultural systems to new climate regimes. The success of agricultural adaptations to new climates contributes to the long-term success or failure of both settlements and polities, as highlighted by case studies from areas as diverse as the desert US Southwest (Redman et al, 2009), the Maya lowlands (Dunning et al, 2012;Iannone et al, 2014), and highland southwestern China (d'Alpoim .…”