Differential animal use within three Late Classic Maya states: Implications for politics and trade

Abstract

The nature of Maya political institutions and state-level resource dynamics during the Late Classic period (AD 550–850) has been the subject of much discussion over the past several decades. This study uses zooarchaeology to track the acquisition and distribution of animal resources within and between political states. We assess the faunal remains excavated from three capitals (Piedras Negras, Yaxchilan, and Aguateca) in two ways. First, we compare the types and uses of resources at capital centers with their subordinate communities to understand the extent of resource control within individual polities. Second, by comparing animal remains between households of different social tiers at each capital center, we explore the distribution of resources within each community. Results indicate that capital residents made use of a wider variety of species than those at subordinate centers, particularly more species from mature forests and exotic (marine) environments. Animal species also varied between households of different social tiers, with middle-ranking elites having the greatest diversity of taxa while high-ranking elites focused on a select group of potentially prestigious species. Non-elites mainly acquired river resources. These results suggest a complex system of animal resource acquisition and distribution played an important role in maintaining the Maya political state.