Preclassic Maya Population: Human Remains, Osteology, and Health

Ritual Emulation of Ancient Maya Elite Mortuary Traditions during the Classic Period at Cahal Pech, Belize. , 2018

famsi.org

Apollonia-Arsuf: Final Report of the Excavations, Volume II., 2020

2013

The Late (AD 500-700) to Terminal (AD 700-900) Classic transition in the Maya Southern Lowlands has been defined as a period of decline and large scale migrations out of ceremonial centers. The reduced access to food due to multi-decadal droughts severely affected the social and political environments during this period. Previous research focused on large scale geographic migration and diet in this area. What is less understood is the degree and direction of migration at a site-specific level, as well as the community’s specific response through time. This research uses the human remains along with their associated mortuary artifacts from the site of Cahal Pech, Cayo District, Belize in order to understand one community’s response to environmental stress during the Late to Terminal Classic period. Several multivariate statistical analyses were run on a comprehensive stable isotope plan (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, 86Sr/87Sr, and δ18O) and mortuary database for 27 individuals from the site core. These result were then compared to models created by the author in order to find a best fit. This research found that migration into and out of Cahal Pech was occurring at a similar rate over time and that almost all individuals that showed non-local isotope signatures came from the Macal River region south of the site. The mortuary patterns do not trend on time period, age and sex, origin of the individual, or location of the burial at the site. Rather, the mortuary patterns initially cluster based on grave type and presence or absence of certain grave goods. The findings show no effect during the transition from the Late to Terminal Classic based on the mortuary and bioarchaeological data. This unexpected result may be due to sampling only the Cahal Pech core, possibly representing elite individuals buffered from the worst effects of deteriorating environmental conditions. In order to understand if this is a unique occurrence or regionally expressed, future research will need to be undertaken with broader parameters.

2018

Analysis of unique mortuary patterns is often used to evaluate the social lives of the deceased and also those of the living who placed them there. The Ventrally Placed, Legs Flexed (VPLF) burials at the site of Lamanai in Belize, dating to the Postclassic period (1000 -1544), have been recorded as a Maya mortuary pattern since the late 1970's. While many researchers have analyzed these skeletal remains, comprehensive and cumulative individual analysis of the VPLF individuals from Lamanai has not been conducted. In this study, I will argue that the VPLF individuals in this study were local to Lamanai, or the surrounding region. To do this, the characteristics of 20 VPLF burials are defined and discussed in context with previously published bone and tooth stable oxygen isotope values. All data was collected from field notes and previously published resources, and then compiled in both a narrative and quantitative fashion. Specifically, the variables of arm position, leg position, head position, body orientation, presence of cranial modification, presence of dental modification, and associated artifacts were statistically tested using a chi-square test of association for correlations. While the correlation results were not statistically significant, the descriptive data did yield the identification of leg and arm positions that are characteristic of VPLF burials. This thesis specifically contributes to the future identification of VPLF burial burials by outlining commonly encountered characteristics operationalization of this unique mortuary practice. More broadly, however, this thesis highlights a general lack of consistency in bioarchaeological and mortuary data recording. Thus, this study is the first to compile VPLF mortuary information into one format, and therefore contributes to the study of bioarchaeology and anthropology by providing a foundation for comparison of future burials. I want to thank my family for being so supportive and always trying to learn more about my research. To my Dad, thank you for teaching me to be tough and that there is no shame in failure. To my Mom, thanks for instilling in me a positive outlook on life, and for always reminding me that "you get more bees with honey." And to you both, thanks for instilling in me honesty and human kindness. Lastly, I want to thank my husband, Luke. You deserve this degree as much as I do. You never disagreed to listening to me read papers aloud repeatedly or relentlessly practicing presentations, all of which were met with nothing but kind and supportive words for me through this entire process. You kept me fed, focused, and caffeine fueled, while holding down our fort. And you never disagreed to driving me to and from the library late at night. I couldn't feel luckier to be your person. I love you and thank you. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .