Re-interpreting ancient Maya mobility: a strontium isotope baseline for Western Honduras

Abstract

Isotopic data are regularly employed to investigate and reconstruct migration, diet, and other anthropological questions about the past. Here we present new radiogenic strontium isotope values for western Honduras that have been understudied in relation to mobility among the ancient Maya in Mesoamerica. We employ biologically available isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr) derived from local fauna and plants to create a baseline for these regions to determine the degree of movement into populations at Late Classic (600–820 CE) Copan, Honduras. Our results demonstrate that while movement certainly occurred within the Maya region, it also may have included areas beyond the perceived physical and cultural boundaries of the Maya world. We focus on the biogeochemical data to highlight how paleomobility (87Sr/86Sr) data should be used cautiously to understand mobility across Mesoamerica, and to consider how non-Maya peoples were likely part of Maya communities.