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A reconstruction of Middle Preclassic Maya subsistence economy at Cahal Pech, Belize

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Terry G. Powis ,
Norbert Stanchly ,
Christine D. White ,
Paul F. Healy ,
Jaime J. Awe  and
Fred Longstaffe
Terry G. Powis
Affiliation:
Powis, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712, USA, tpowis@mail.utexas.edu
Norbert Stanchly
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, England, norbert.stanchly@utoronto.ca
Christine D. White
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London ONT N6A 5C2, Canada, white2@julian.uwo.ca
Paul F. Healy
Affiliation:
Office of Research & Graduate Studies, Trent University, Peterborough ONT K9J 7B8, Canada, phealy@trentu.ca
Jaime J. Awe
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824, USA, jjawe@alberti.unh.edu
Fred Longstaffe
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London ONT N6A 5B7, Canada, flongsta@julian.uwo.ca
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Abstract

The recovery of animal and plant remains from the site of Cahal Pech provides data on early diet and subsistence practices in the Belize Valley region of the Maya lowlands. Analysis of the material remains suggests that the Middle Preclassic Maya were practising a mixed subsistence economy relying on agricultural foodstuffs, local terrestrial game species, freshwater fish and shellfish and marine reef fishes. Isotopic analysis of human bone is used to aid in the reconstruction of actual food consumption.

Keywords

BelizeMayaMiddle Preclassicsubsistenceisotopic analysis
Type
Papers
Information
Antiquity , Volume 73 , Issue 280 , June 1999 , pp. 364 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 1999

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