Ritual Patterns In Mayan Culture

While the majority of this paper has focused on how zooarchaeological remains can inform archaeologists on larger ritual patterns, faunal remains can also illustrate how social hierarchy plays a role in Maya ritual. The fact that Maya society was highly stratified has been well documented. Many archaeologists have argued that the Maya elite had more access to animal meat than the rest of Mayan society (Emery 2003; 2004; Hamblin 1984; Masson 1999). This has led to several arguments on how the presence of certain animals such as stingray spines might indicate elite rituals (Haines et al 2008; Maxwell 2000).
Maya elites were not the only people in Maya society to have access to animal meat as faunal remains are regularly found in common households
The higher diversity of faunal remains at elite sites may be a result of elites having more access to “exotic” animals such as felines and tapirs (Masson and Lope 2008:173). The isotopic analysis of human burials in Copan support the idea that elites did indeed have a more diverse, balanced diet (Montero-Lopez 2009:55). Furthermore, the isotopic analysis of faunal remains from across the Maya region tentatively suggests that elites had more access to long distance trade based on the higher amount of non-local animals found at elite sites (Thornton
For example, at Mayapan, deer cranial elements were solely found at the Temple of Kukulkan which may denote its status as a religious commodity (Masson and Lope 2008:176). The same has been noted of certain mollusk species which were not eaten, but used exclusively as decorations on elite regalia (Emery 2003:505). These types of luxury items were most likely used as visual demonstrations of an elite’s power and wealth (deFrance 2009:139). For example, stingray spines used for bloodletting are typically found in elite residences, administrative complexes, or ceremonial precincts (Hamblin 1984:32). In Mayan art, stingray spines are commonly depicted in elite rituals such as ascension rituals where power is being transferred to a new ruler (Haines et al. 2008:90). It may be that the use of stingray spines was considered a great honor, reserved specifically for elites. That being said, it is important to note that there is a bias in Mayan art as most depicts the lives of elites rather than