Pre‐Hispanic Maya fisheries and coastal adaptations in the northern lowlands from the Classic (500–900 AD) to Postclassic (900–1400 AD) periods

Abstract

AbstractRecent studies of fish remains at Mayan settlements from the Classic (500–900 AD) and Postclassic (900–1400 AD) periods are examined. These analyses deepen our understanding of ancient Maya fishing practices and coastal ecosystems and call into question traditional paradigms of environmental stability in the northern Maya lowlands. The effects of droughts recorded during the Maya collapse (800–1000 AD) led to an overall reduction in freshwater inflow into the estuaries combined with episodic increases of sedimentary output. The latter fostered the development of muddy bottoms along the coast, in particular around estuaries formed by underwater river discharges. Ecological characterization and trophic level shifts of fish assemblages from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean shores help elucidate environmental stress episodes. These findings set a preliminary baseline for pre‐Hispanic Maya fisheries, which can further our understanding of present day fisheries along the Maya coast.