The Maya Preclassic to Classic transition observed through faunal trends from Ceibal, Guatemala.

ABSTRACT: It is well known that the development of the ancient Maya civilization had significant and long-lasting impacts on the environment. This study assesses a large collection of faunal remains (>35,000 specimens) recovered over a span of several kilometers in and around the archaeological site of Ceibal, Guatemala, in order to determine whether the composition of animal resources was continuous throughout the site's history between 1000 BC and AD 1200, or whether there were any changes that could be attributed to sociopolitical or environmental causes. Results show a steep uniform decline in the number of freshwater mollusks across the site that occurred during the Preclassic to Classic transition, when large region-wide political changes, including the development of more complex and centrali

SUBMITTER: Sharpe AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7138325 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature