Ritual schedule and worshippers’ origin at an ancient Maya ritual cave site, Las Cuevas, Belize: a pilot study of jute snail shell sclerochemistry

Abstract

Sequential stable carbon and oxygen isotope data were measured on 15 jute snail shells (Pachychilus sp.) excavated from the Cave at Las Cuevas, a ritual cave site in western Belize. The shells were found intact in the undisturbed, excavated ritual activity area, suggesting they were left as offerings, not as food waste. The offering of jute snails is thought to be associated with ancient Maya concern for rainfall needed for agriculture, thus the interpretation of the isotope data focused on assessing if the shells were offered in rainy or dry periods. Seven of the shell profiles did not contain oscillations in isotope profiles, and so could not be interpreted for wet or dry season of capture. The remaining shells’ isotope profiles indicate some were captured in rainy, dry, and intermediate conditions. Significant variation in the ranges in absolute carbon and oxygen isotope values suggest they were collected from two or more locations, therefore at least some of the snails were brought in from a distance rather than collected locally prior to offering. More detailed conclusions cannot be confidently made without additional method validation studies, but this project supports the potential utility of jute shell sclerochronology in Maya archaeology.