First Steps–dentition, Kinship, Social Groups, and Status in the Upper Belize River Valley: Small Sample Insights Into Classic Maya Social Organization in Central Western Belize

Abstract

Nonmetric (morphological) and metric analyses of dental traits and dentition are an established and effective, but still much underutilized, means of determining biological relationships among the individuals comprising a population over several generations. Combining such dental analyses, a social organizational typology adapted from social psychology, and small sample statistics, this study hazards a trial examination of the evidence for biological affinity within and between three archaeologically perceived social groups represented in the Classic-period Belize Valley community of Buenavista del Cayo. The groups comprise traditional high elite and commoner categories, and a putative middle level of intermediate elites. Findings suggest a dichotomous kinship structure of elites and non-elites, but one within which there had emerged an emically and archaeologically distinct “middle” status group of intermediate elites or subelites that remained affined by blood to the subordinate non-elite commoners and peasantry. The study differs from previous examinations of ancient Maya social organization in employing a truly integrated bioarchaeological approach to the topic rather than what have generally been intrinsically insular archaeological or osteometric approaches.

Classic Maya Settlement Systems Reveal Differential Land Use Patterns in the Upper Belize River Valley

“…Generally, smaller clusters are present around high-status commoner households. These units are comparable to those described by Smith [112] as neighborhoods, although kin-based or corporate relations may have played an important role in structuring membership [136][137][138][139][140][141]. Larger clusters, which equate to districts, are generally apparent around minor centers.…”