Description
Book SynopsisFrom Ritual to Refuse explores the faunal exploitation by the Maya elite at the site of Chinikihá, Chiapas, during the end of the Late Classic period (AD 700-850) by applying zooarchaeological and statistical analyses to a faunal assemblage located in a basurero or midden behind a palatial structure at the core of the site. This deposit has been interpreted as the result of one or various feasting events. The aim is to investigate temporal changes of function, more specifically during periods of increasing political competitiveness. Moreover, these analyses suggest that there is a change in the use of faunal resources, from a ritual pattern to a more general refuse deposit. The results from the zooarchaeological analysis are supported by a dietary analysis using δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes conducted on human and faunal samples. The results from the faunal assemblage suggest that there was a constant supply of animals for ritual and non-ritual uses, and that these animals were mostly obtained in the wild.
Table of ContentsPreface ;
Introduction ;
Chapter one: Theoretical background to feasting: Activities in archaeology ;
Chapter two: The presence of faunal remains in different contexts: the Maya case ;
Chapter three: Chinikihá and the sociopolitical situation during the maya classic period ;
Chapter four: Description of the Chinikihá assemblages ;
Chapter five: Zooarchaeological methodology ;
Chapter six: Theoretical background to isotope analysis ;
Chapter seven: Results of the zooarchaeological analysis ;
Chapter eight: Detailed analysis of
Operación 114 ;
Chapter nine: Results of the isotope analysis ;
Chapter ten: discussion ;
Conclusion ;
References ;
Appendix a: list of isolated teeth by
operación ;
Appendix b: list of material identified by
operación ;
Appendix c: List of modified bone and shell studied ;
Appendix d: List of human remains studied
