Maya Health Though Time in Northwestern Belize

Summary

This presentation will examine paleopathology among the ancient Maya through the analysis of the skeletal remains from three different medium Maya sites in northwestern Belize. Osteological health indicators such as trauma, porotic hyperostosis, cribra orbitalia, osteoarthritis, and various dental health issues will be assessed both within and between the three sites. The sites to be discussed are Blue Creek, Nojol Nah, and Xnoha all of which are located along the Bravo Escarpment in northwestern Belize. This area is part of the larger Three Rivers Region, of northern Belize, which was an incredible location for trade and agriculture throughout the Preclassic and Classic (250-900AD) periods. the health indicators that are present at these sites will not only be examined temporally, but also through the lens of social stratification and biological sex. Due to both pH levels in the soils in the area along the escarpment, as well as burial practices, the skeletal populations of these three sites are quite well preserved, which allows for a unique look into a micro-region of the Maya. This study aims to illuminate Preclassic and Classic Maya health through the analysis of the skeletal populations of the three sites on the Bravo Escarpment.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes": Transitions and Thresholds throughout Central America and Beyond

Keywords

Spatial Coverage