ABSTRACT
Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis has provided a means of reconstructing ancient Maya diets that is particularly valuable given that the generally poor preservation of bone in the region does not allow many kinds of traditional osteological investigations. Lori Wright notes that the Maya area is, in fact, one of the most intensively used for dietary stable isotope analysis. Under the challenge of the ecological model of the Classic period collapse, paleodiet researchers have gained a better understanding of the regional and temporal heterogeneity in Maya diets. Social heterogeneity became recognized during the process of reconstructing relationships among culture, biology, and environment, laying a good foundation for further work using new archaeological models and social theory to explore social interactions. This chapter emphasizes the potential of Maya paleodiet studies to explore the meaning of these metaphors and to use the social heterogeneity that is often seen as a confounding variable for understanding the cultural complexity of these ancient people.
