These give more info on the Maya and some have links to yet more, for the detail-oriented among us... ;)
http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=MAYA0034 ...The widespread adoption of the stela cult in the lowlands begins at Tikal with the erection of Stela 29 in 292 CE. No earlier dated monument is known, but later Tikal stelae refer back in time to the founder of the first Tikal dynasty ca. 100. Other lowland cities did not begin boasting of their dynastic founders until 100 years later, and the erection of stelae was basically confined to the central Petén region around Tikal until the middle of the fifth century. Although stelae are notoriously subject to erosion and destruction (century-long dynastic gaps are not unusual among those that have been recovered), it now appears that the powerful city of Tikal was initially the source of inspiration for the ruler cult in the lowlands. Based on the contents of its Early Classic Period tombs and ritual caches, Tikal used its political power to expand its long-distance trade and to amass considerable wealth. In the early fifth century, under the rule of Yax Ain (379420), or First Crocodile, better known as Curl Nose, there were unprecedented amounts of imported materials: obsidian from both central Mexico and the Guatemalan highlands, jade from the Motagua Valley, shells from the Pacific and the Caribbean, and ceramic vessels influenced by Teotihuacan in central Mexico. Curl Nose's tomb, painted with Maya hieroglyphs and astronomical symbols, was filled with all these imported riches as well as other exotic materials, including a variety of bird feathers, two turtle carapaces, and the body of a crocodile, his namesake and spirit companion, or way... So they did have fairly widespread trading partners; Diamond mentioned that obsidian never seemed to be in short supply, and one of the articles noted coastal trade, including island outposts. The link on the above page also cites "turquoise from what is now Cerillos, New Mexico" as part of the luxury goods involved. There is a linked trade route map. These are some *really* cool pix of Tikal etc. http://www.mesoweb.com/tikal/features/history/textindex.html Long, scholarly article on one post-classical Mayan archeological site, which I only scanned: http://www.albany.edu/docs.anthro/fac/masson2/1996/BELRPT96.htm ...Of broader anthropological interest to this project is a process of cultural change that may be termed selective reproduction (Masson 1997a). Analyzing selective reproduction of cultural institutions in a resistance climate like that which may have existed after the Classic period collapse in Belize assumes conscious historical action and the presence of social memory among Postclassic villages and their leaders. In the Postclassic period, certain institutions of Classic period Maya society were retained (like calendric rituals) while others were intentionally disgarded (like divine kingship and investment in monumental architecture). This investigation assumes that social memory was not lost in the Postclassic, and that Postclassic peoples were not "incapable" or insufficiently "complex" to achieve the centralization of the Classic period city states. It is instead considered that social and political transformations toward more fragmented and autonomous secondary regional state systems were accomplished through active choices made in Postclassic cultural reproduction, and these choices were based on the perception that such changes were generally beneficial to the participants involved... [This partially answers the question I asked about continuity after central collapse of authority.] ...The terrace, wall, and dock landscape modifications at Laguna suggest the existence of an influential political office during the Postclassic period at this community. At first view, the island appears to be a natural phenomena geomorphological phenomena. Neither architecture or landscape modifications are visible from the surface. As a result of 1996 investigations, it is apparent that much of the island may be artificially modified through engineering feats undertaken by Postclassic villagers... [Improved diet after reforestation?] ...Identification of the bones of numerous forest dwelling large game animals, such as tapir, reflects a major rejuventation of the 12th-14th century ecology in northern Belize. Improved hunting opportunities and animal proteins in the diet for the Laguna community are implied from the recovery of abundant terrestrial and aquatic animals in ritual and domestic deposits. By contrast, game is scarce or absent from most Classic period domestic contexts in this region (Scott 1980, 1982) and pollen records show considerable deforestation (D. Rice 1986). Skeletal analysis will further provide testimony regarding the health of Middle Postclassic populations at Laguna. The population at Laguna appears robust and exhibits minimal pathologies, perhaps due to a more diverse and protein rich diet facilitated by reforestation... Debbi who has stocked up on books from the library, as we're expecting snow today (it was 80oF on Saturday!) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
