Maya Subsistence (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Maya Subsistence: Studies in Memory of Dennis E. Puleston 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 8
Dedication 6
Contributors 16
Preface 18
Dennis Edward Puleston(1940-1978): Maya Archaeologist 24
References 37
Part I: Ecological Models for Early Maya Adaptations 40
Chapter 1. Cultural Evolution and Ecological Succession in the Valley of Guatemala: 1500 B.C.–A.D. 1524 42
Introduction 42
Chronology 51
Settlement and Population History of the Valley of Guatemala 73
Agricultural History of the Valley of Guatemala 79
Conclusions 82
References 85
Chapter 2. An Ecological Model of the Early Maya of the Central Lowlands 88
Introduction 88
Pioneer Maya and the Tropical Forest Habitat 90
Pioneer Maya and the Tropical Forest Habitat 90
Potential Exports of the Central Lowlands 93
Organizational Characteristics of Tropical Forests and Their Procurement Systems 107
Organizational Characteristics of the Maya Export System 109
Evaluation of the Tropical Forest Export Model 111
Summary 113
Acknowledgments 113
References 113
Part II: Archaeological Investigations of Preclassic and Classic Maya Subsistence 120
Chapter 3. Prehistoric Agricultural Systems in El Salvador 122
Introduction 122
Cultural History and Agricultural Systems 123
Summary and Conclusions 139
Acknowledgments 139
References 140
Chapter 4. Subsistence and Society in Eastern Yucatán 142
Introduction 142
Part l 143
Part II 146
Conclusion 151
References 152
Chapter 5. Subsistence, Trade, and Development of the Coastal Maya 154
Introduction 154
Preclassic Canalization at Cerros, Northern Belize 156
Spatial Disposition of Features 157
Excavation of Features 162
Excavation of Features 162
Interpretations 168
Speculation 171
Conclusions 174
References 176
Chapter 6. Ancient Lowland and Highland Maya Water and Soil Conservation Strategies 180
Introduction 180
Lowland and Highland Watersheds 180
Lowland Hydraulic Techniques 182
The Maya Highlands 193
Summary 199
References 200
Part Ill: Contributions of Geography and Soil Science to an Understanding of Ancient Maya Subsistence 202
Chapter 7. Hydraulic Agriculture in the American Tropics: Forms, Measures, and Recent Research 204
Introduction 204
Forms of Hydraulic Agriculture and Minor Water-Management Techniques 206
The Measurement of Raised Fields 211
Recent Research on Precolumbian Raised-Field Agriculture in Latin America 216
Summary 220
References 221
Chapter 8. Prehispanic Agricultural Use of the Wetlands of Northern Belize 228
Introduction 228
Wetlands of Northern Belize 229
Ground Verification of Wetland Patterning 231
Related Field Investigations 240
Reconsiderations 242
Problems in Assessing the Significance of Maya Raised Fields 243
Summary and Conclusions 244
Postscript 245
References 246
Chapter 9. The Origin of Raised Fields near San Antonio, Belize: An Alternative Hypothesis 250
Introduction 250
Physical Setting 251
Methods 251
Examination of Strata from Test Pits 253
Discussion 255
Summary and Conclusions 257
References 258
Part IV: Maya Subsistence in the Postclassic, Colonial, and Modern Eras 260
Chapter 10. The Plant World of the Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Lowland Maya 262
Introduction 262
The Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Sources 263
The Size of the Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Fields 276
Maya Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Plant Categories 281
Maya Classification of Soils and Environmental Features 285
Continuity and Change: The Impact of Nahua and Arawak 287
Summary and Conclusions 290
Acknowledgments 292
References 292
Chapter 11. Agriculture and Trade in the Colonial Period Southern Maya Lowlands 298
Introduction 298
The Southern Maya Lowlands in Colonial Times 300
Patterns of Agricultural Production 309
Implications of the Model 312
References 314
Chapter 12. The Traditional Role of Women and Animals in Lowland Maya Economy 318
Introduction 318
Ritual Feasts 319
Trade and Tribute 325
Dogs and Pigs 326
The Economic Role of Maya Women 327
Conclusions 331
Acknowledgments 332
References 332
Chapter 13. The Contemporary Role of Women in Lowland Maya Livestock Production 336
Introduction 336
Methods 337
Traditional Methods of Animal Production 337
Contemporary Festivals 345
Personal Independence and Family Security 346
Women as Entrepreneurs 347
Conclusion 348
Acknowledgments 348
Chapter 14. Experiences in Traditional Hydraulic Agriculture 350
Introduction 350
The Balancán-Tenosique Plan 352
Experiment in El Espino, Tabasco 357
The College of Tropical Agriculture 358
The Cultural Institute of Nacajuca 358
The Camellones Chontales 359
The Lagoon of Tecocomulco 361
Chinampas of Laguna de La Mancha 362
Conclusion 363
Acknowledgments 363
References 364
Part V: Overview 366
Chapter 15. Maya Subsistence: A Commentary 368
References 370
Appendix 1: Dennis E. Puleston: A Tribute 372
Appendix 2: The Role of Ramón in Maya Subsistence 376
Introduction 376
Slash-and-Burn Agriculture 377
The Ramón Survey 381
Productivity 383
Nutrition 384
Labor 385
Settlement Patterns 386
References 387
Index 390