Thesis
Environment, Equality, and Economy: Zooarchaeological Perspectives from the Ancient Maya Community of Aventura, Belize
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
05/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006945
Abstract
This thesis presents the results of zooarchaeological analyses conducted on faunal remains obtained from various contexts at the ancient Maya site of Aventura, Belize. I incorporate vertebrate and invertebrate remains and stable isotope analyses to provide novel information regarding ecology, subsistence, and household cooperation at the site. I find that the vertebrate assemblage is primarily composed of mammalian taxa, which are commonly found at Maya sites. Stable isotope analysis indicates that vertebrate animals were obtained from a variety of habitats, including forests and gardens. The invertebrate assemblage is characterized by an abundance of marine mollusks, many of which can be found in the shallow waters of nearby Chetumal Bay. There are general similarities in the faunal taxa used by elite and commoner households, although the frequencies of those taxa vary by status. In addition, the invertebrate remains demonstrate that households of all socioeconomic backgrounds participated in a sitewide marine shell-crafting industry. These zooarchaeological results shed additional light on Aventura’s role in trade and politics in Northern Belize and the greater Maya region.
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Details
- Title
- Environment, Equality, and Economy
- Creators
- Emily G. Kinney
- Contributors
- Erin Thornton (Chair)Rachel A Horowitz (Committee Member)Colin Grier (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Anthropology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 103
- Identifiers
- 99901125141001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis