Settlement, trade, and subsistence in coastal Mesoamerica: An introduction

Abstract

Over the past several decades, a large corpus of studies has been published on the relationship between resource availability and settlement in coastal Mesoamerica, particularly regarding the prevalence of mixed subsistence systems early in the Formative Period (ca.1800–850 BC). Few recent comparative works, however, are available which draw together research on coastal human–environment interactions from several Mesoamerican regions. This article endeavors to contribute toward interregional comparisons by highlighting findings from case studies in this special section of The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology. I explore broadly relevant themes, including geomorphic impacts on the archaeological record and the significance of coastal resources to coastal settlement, subsistence, and trade. While common patterns illuminate archaeological debates, it is important to identify the distinctive environmental characteristics of different regions which impact the visibility of archaeological data as well as the resources available to local populations. I emphasize the utility of conducting high-resolution interdisciplinary research to capture such ecological variability.