Early Maya animal rearing and trade

Researchers report early evidence of Maya animal management. The rearing and trade of captive animals in Mesoamerica are poorly understood, compared with other societies. To illuminate Maya animal management practices, Ashley Sharpe and colleagues performed isotope analysis on animal remains from the Maya site of Ceibal, Guatemala. The bone collagen of dogs and one large wild cat, the remains of which dated to the Maya Middle Preclassic period (1000-350 BC), was enriched in 13C and 15N isotopes, consistent with a diet of maize or maize-fed prey. Such a diet suggests that the animals were fed by humans. The tooth enamel of the dogs and cat was similarly enriched in 13C, suggesting that the animals had consumed the same maize-based diet from an early age and had therefore been raised in captivity. Strontium isotope ratios in the tooth enamel, which reflect the local geology of the animal's home region, indicate that some of the dogs came from the distant volcanic highlands, suggesting long-distance trade in captive animals. The nonlocal dogs and possibly captive-raised cat remains were found in the city's ceremonial core, suggesting the ceremonial significance of these animals. The findings suggest that animal management may have been widespread among the Maya earlier than previously believed and was important in the development of state society, according to the authors.

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Article #17-13880: "Earliest isotopic evidence in the Maya region for animal management and long-distance trade at the site of Ceibal, Guatemala," by Ashley E. Sharpe et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley E. Sharpe, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa-Ancon, PANAMA; tel: +507-212-8286, +507-6778-3572; e-mail: <SharpeAE@si.edu>

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