Animal resource use in ecological and economic context at Formative Period Cuello, Belize

Lowland Maya Genesis: The Late Archaic to Late Early Formative Transition in the Upper Belize River Valley

“…Maize agriculture supported massive populations in the Maya lowlands during the Classic period (a.d. 300-900), yet relatively little is known about farming before the appearance of sedentary villages ∼1200/1000 b.c. Nevertheless, researchers working in the Upper Belize Valley and beyond have explored Archaic and Formative period agriculture and subsistence practices for decades (e.g., Carr and Fradkin 2008;Castellanos and Foias 2017;Flannery 2009;Flannery et al 1981;Kennett et al 2017Kennett et al , 2020Neff et al 2006;Orsini 2016;Piperno 2011;Piperno and Pearsall 1998;Pohl 1976Pohl , 1983Pohl et al 1996;Rosenswig 2006aRosenswig , 2006bRosenswig , 2015Rosenswig et al 2014;Stanchly and Awe 2015;Stanchly and Burke 2018;Voorhies 2004;Wake 2004;Wing and Scudder 1991). Rather than repeating the rich datasets and insightful interpretations contained in these reports, we limit comments here to a few statements that identify potential changes and continuities in the subsistence patterns of Archaic to Formative populations in the Upper Belize Valley.…”

Patterns of ancient animal use at El Mirador: evidence for subsistence, ceremony and exchange

“…The non-local nature of this species supports the hypothesis of El Mirador's participation in coastal-inland trade networks. Although it is not uncommon to identify small amounts of marine resources at Preclassic sites (Wing, 1977;Moholy-Nagy, 1985;Shaw, 1999;Fradkin & Carr, 2003;, the presence of marine fish remains at El Mirador is significant due to the site's distance from both the coast and major waterways used for transportation from the coast into the interior.…”

“…Preclassic animal use patterns at El Mirador are similar to those identified at other Preclassic sites within the Maya lowlands. Prior to the Late Preclassic, Maya animal use emphasized the use of aquatic resources such as fish and turtles (Wing & Scudder, 1991;Fradkin & Carr, 2003), while during the Late Preclassic animal use shifted towards greater reliance on larger terrestrial species including deer and dog. This Late Preclassic pattern has been observed at the sites of Cerros, Cuello, Dzibilchaltun, Colha, Seibal, Altar de Sacrificios and Kaminaljuyu (Wing & Steadman, 1980;Carr, 1985;Cliff & Crane, 1989;Pohl, 1990;Wing & Scudder, 1991;Shaw, 1999;Masson, 2004;Emery et al, 2013).…”