Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-06T06:40:16.388Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ancient and Modern Maya Exploitation of the Jute Snail (Pachychilus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Paul F. Healy
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8
Kitty Emery
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
Lori E. Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637

Abstract

Although the economic basis of the ancient lowland Maya civilization was principally maize agriculture, throughout their long history the Maya remained proficient fishers, hunters, and gatherers. Research increasingly has suggested early and extensive Maya exploitation of the freshwater molluscan species Pachychilus, called jute by the modern Maya. This report reviews archaeological evidence for use of this stream- and river-dwelling invertebrate and summarizes recent data from the site of Pacbitun, in western Belize. Pachychilus not only was used for dietary purposes, but occasionally was included in Maya ritual deposits. Ecological information on the habitat of Pachychilus is given, as well as a description of its nutritional value and contemporary methods of collecting and processing jute in the modern Maya community of San Antonio (Cayo), Belize. It is concluded that Pachychilus was one minor but widespread element of the ancient Maya subsistence regime.

Although the economic basis of the ancient lowland Maya civilization was principally maize agriculture, throughout their long history the Maya remained proficient fishers, hunters, and gatherers. Research increasingly has suggested early and extensive Maya exploitation of the freshwater molluscan species Pachychilus, called jute by the modern Maya. This report reviews archaeological evidence for use of this stream- and river-dwelling invertebrate and summarizes recent data from the site of Pacbitun, in western Belize. Pachychilus not only was used for dietary purposes, but occasionally was included in Maya ritual deposits. Ecological information on the habitat of Pachychilus is given, as well as a description of its nutritional value and contemporary methods of collecting and processing jute in the modern Maya community of San Antonio (Cayo), Belize. It is concluded that Pachychilus was one minor but widespread element of the ancient Maya subsistence regime.

Aunque la base económica de la civilización antigua de los mayas de las tierras bajas era principalmente la agricultura de maíz, los mayas eran también competentes como cazadores, pescadores, y recolectores. Este artículo analiza la evidencia arqueológica sobre la explotación antigua, por parte de los mayas, del caracol de agua dulce, Pachychilus, un invertebrado habitante de arroyos y ríos. Investigaciones recientes en el centro cívico-ceremonial de Pacbitún, en el oeste de Belice, produjeron evidencia de 3.600 conchas de Pachychilus y manifiestan una dependencia, sobre todo alimenticia, que empieza en el período Preclásico Medio (cerca de 900 A.C.) y continúa por el período Clásico Terminal (cerca de 900 D.C.). La presencia de Pachychilus, llamada jute o tutu por los mayas modernos, está documentada en más que una docena de otros sitios prehistóricos en Belice, Guatemala, y México, principalmente en contextos domésticos en asociación con residencias comunes. El predominio de esta especie de molusco sugiere un papel económico y relacionado con la subsistencia que no ha sido explorado adecuadamente en estudios previos. La especie es descrita y diversas variedades son señaladas. Estudios preliminares sobre el hábitat indican que los caracoles, miembros de la familia Pleuroceridae, actualmente ascienden a millones alrededor de algunos sitios mayas de las tierras bajas, y probablemente durante la era precolombina también. Pachychilus sigue hoy como comida de los mayas en algunas regiones. El análisis de la colección y la cocina de jute en el pueblo maya de San Antonio (Distrito de Cayo, Belice) indica que la práctica está disminuyendo entre los jóvenes mayas. El artículo también examina la evidencia del uso antiguo de los mayas de caracoles en ofrendas rituales, tal como ofrendas dedicatorias, y un estudio nutritivo sobre la carne de Pachychilus revela tener un valor nutritivo comparable a otros tipos de moluscos, tal como almejas y ostras. La colección y el tratamiento de Pachychilus parece ser un elemento antiguo de la economía maya. Se concluye que los caracoles eran probablemente un suplemento de proteína, y un elemento general en el régimen de la subsistencia de los mayas antiguos.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Awe, J. J. 1985 Archaeological Investigations at Caledonia, Cayo District, Belize.Unpublished Master's thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Bill, C. R. 1987 Excavation of Structure 23: A Maya “Palace” at the Site of Pacbitun, Belize. Unpublished Master's thesis, Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.Google Scholar
Carr, H. S. 1985 Subsistence and Ceremony: Faunal Utilization in a Late Preclassic Community at Cerros, Belize. In Prehistoric Lowland Maya Environment and Subsistence Economy, edited by Pohl, M., pp. 115132. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 77. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Coe, W. R. 1959 Piedras Negras Archaeology: Artifacts, Caches, and Burials. The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Covich, A. P. 1983 Mollusca: A Contrast in Species Diversity from Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats. In Pulltrouser Swamp: Ancient Maya Habitat, Agriculture, and Settlement in Northern Belize, edited by Turner, B. L. II and Harrison, P. D., pp. 120139. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Emery, K. 1988 Jute ﹛Pachychilus sp.): A Discussion of the Physical Characteristics, Habitat Preferences, and Available Population. Ms. on file, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto.Google Scholar
Erlandson, J. M. 1988 The Role of Shellfish in Prehistoric Economies: A Protein Perspective. American Antiquity 53: 102 109. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman, L. H. 1978a Seibal and the Mollusks of the Usumacinta Valley. In Excavations at Seibal, Department of Peten, Guatemala, edited by Willey, G. R., pp. 166167. Memoirs No. 14(1). Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Feldman, L. H. 1978b Archaeological Invertebrates. British Museum-Cambridge University Corozal Project. Ms. on file, Museum of Anthropology, University of Missouri-Columbia.Google Scholar
Feldman, L. H. 1980a Further Studies of Archaeological Molluscan Remains from Colha, 1979 Season. In The Colha Project: Second Season, 1980 Interim Report, edited by Hester, T. R., Eaton, J. D., and Shafer, H. J., pp. 269274. Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.Google Scholar
Feldman, L. H. 1980b Preliminary Report on Archaeological Molluscan Remains at Colha, 1980 Season. In The Colha Project: Second Season, 1980 Interim Report edited by Hester, T. R., Eaton, J. D., and Shafer, H. J., pp. 275280. Center for Archaeological Research, University of Texas, San Antonio.Google Scholar
Flannery, K. V. (editor) 1982 Maya Subsistence: Studies in Memory of Dennis E. Puleston. Academic Press, New York. Gilford, J. C.Google Scholar
Flannery, K. V. 1976 Prehistoric Pottery Analysis and the Ceramics of Barton Ramie in the Belize Valley.Memoirs No. 18. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge. Google Scholar
Goodrich, C., and van der Schalie, H. 1937 Mollusca of Peten and north Aha Vera Paz, Guatemala. Miscellaneous Publication No. 34. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Hamblin, N. L. 1984 Animal Use by the Cozumel Maya. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1975 Lubaantun: A Classic Maya Realm. Monograph No. 2. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1983 Ancient Maya Civilization. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey.Google Scholar
Harrison, P. D., and Turner, B. L. II (editors) 1978 Pre-Hispanic Maya Agriculture. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Healy, P. F. 1988 Music of the Maya. Archaeology 41 (1): 2431.Google Scholar
1990 Excavations at Pacbitun, Belize: Preliminary Report on the 1986 and 1987 Investigations. Journal of Field Archaeology 17, in press.Google Scholar
Healy, P. F., Lambert, J. D. H., Arnason, J. T., and Hebda, R. J. 1983 Caracol, Belize: Evidence of Ancient Maya Agricultural Terraces. Journal of Field Archaeology 10: 397-410.Google Scholar
Hellmuth, N. 1977 Cholti-Lacandon (Chiapas) and Peten-Ytza Agriculture, Settlement Patterns, and Population. In Social Process in Maya Prehistory, edited by Hammond, N., pp. 421448. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Lange, F. W. 1971 Marine Resources: A Viable Subsistence Alternative for the Prehistoric Lowland Maya. American Anthropologist 73: 619639.Google Scholar
Lee, T. A. Jr., and Hayden, B. 1988 San Pablo Cave and El Cayo on the Usumacinta River, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation No. 53. Brigham Young University, Provo.Google Scholar
Lee, T. A. Jr., and Markman, S. 1977 The Coxoh Colonial Project and Coneta, Chiapas, Mexico: A Provincial Maya Village under the Spanish Conquest. Historical Archaeology 11: 5666.Google Scholar
Longyear, J. M. III, 1952 Copan Ceramics: A Study of Southeastern Maya Pottery. Publication No. 597. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
McKillop, H. I. 1988 Ancient Maya Agriculture: Tree-Cropping at Wild Cane Cay, Belize. Paper presented at the First International Congress of Ethnobiology, Belem, Brazil.Google Scholar
Meighan, C. E. 1969 Molluscs as Food Remains in Archaeological Sites. In Science in Archaeology, edited by D. Brothwell and E. Higgs, pp. 415422. Thames and Hudson, London.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, H. 1963 Shells and Other Marine Material from Tikal. Estudios de Cultura Maya 3:6583.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, H. 1978 The Utilization of Pomacea at Tikal, Guatemala. American Antiquity 43:6573.Google Scholar
Nations, J. D. 1979 Snail Shells and Maize Preparation: A Lacandon Maya Analogy. American Antiquity 44:568571.Google Scholar
Noli, D., and Avery, G. 1988 Protein Poisoning and Coastal Subsistence. Journal of Archaeological Science 15:395401.Google Scholar
Parmalee, P. W., and Klippel, W. E. 1974 Freshwater Mussels as a Prehistoric Food Resource. American Antiquity 39:421434.Google Scholar
Pendergast, D. M. 1969 The Prehistory of Actun Balam, British Honduras. Art and Archaeology Occasional Papers No. 16. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.Google Scholar
Pendergast, D. M. 1971 Excavations at EduardoQuiroz Cave, British Honduras (Belize). Art and Archaeology Occasional Papers No. 21. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.Google Scholar
Pohl, M. 1985 The Privileges of Maya Elites: Prehistoric Vertebrate Fauna from Seibal. In Prehistoric Lowland Maya Environment and Subsistence Economy, edited by M. Pohl, pp. 133145. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 77. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Pohl, M. (editor) 1985 Prehistoric Lowland Maya Environment and Subsistence Economy. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 77. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Puleston, D. E. 1968 Bronsimum alicastrum as a Subsistence Alternative for the Classic Maya of the Central Southern Lowlands. Unpublished Master's thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Ricketson, O. G., Jr., and Ricketson, E. B. 1937 Uaxactun, Guatemala: Group E, 1926-1931. Publication No. 477. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Scrimshaw, N. S., and Young, V. R. 1976 The Requirements of Human Nutrition. Scientific American 235:5064.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1939 Excavations at San Jose, British Honduras. Publication No. 506. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Willey, G. R., Bullard, W. R., Jr., Glass, J. B., and Gifford, J. C. 1965 Prehistoric Maya Settlements in the Belize Valley. Papers of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 54. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Wing, E. S. 1975 Animal Remains from Lubaantun (Appendix 6). In Lubaantun: A Classic Maya Realm, by Norman Hammond, pp. 379383. Monograph No. 2. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Wing, E. S., and Steadman, D. 1980 Vertebrate Faunal Remains from Dzibilchaltun. In Excavations at Dzibilchaltun, Yucatan, Mexico, by E. W. Andrews IV and E. W. Andrews V. Publication No. 48. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Wonderley, A. 1986 Naco, Honduras: Some Aspects of a Late Postclassic Community on the Eastern Maya Frontier. In The Southeast Maya Periphery, edited by P. A. Urban and E. M. Schortman, pp. 313332. University of Texas Press, Austin.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, A. C. S., Romney, D. H., Arbuckle, R. H., and Vial, V. E. 1959 Land in British Honduras: Report of the British Honduras Land Use Survey Team. Colonial Research Publication No. 24. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar