Ring Structures and Lime Production at the Ancient Maya Site of Kiuic

Summary

Powdered lime was one of the most important materials produced and utilized by the ancient Maya. It was a key ingredient in the mortar used to construct monumental edifices and residential structures, as well as in the lime plaster that coated the facades, floors and interior walls of these structures. Lime was even crucial for maintaining a viable maize-based diet through the nixtamalization process. By soaking maize in lime-infused water the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica not only softened the kernels for grinding but also unlocked the essential nutrient niacin for uptake into the body. Despite the obvious importance of lime to daily life in the ancient Maya world, there remains a relative lack of evidence concerning the ancient methods for producing this crucial material. Recent investigations of ring-like kiln structures in and around the ancient site of Kiuic in the Puuc region of the Yucatan peninsula contribute new evidence to the study of ancient lime production. This paper presents the preliminary results of the latest fieldwork at Kiuic and discusses the importance of the lime industry with regard to the local economy and resource management leading up through the peak of Terminal Classic Puuc society.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Exploitation of Limestone in Ancient Mesoamerica   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage