Medicinal Use of Animal Products by the Maya of Guatemala: Implications for Zooarchaeology

In my recent ethnoarchaeological research with the lowland (Itzaj) and highland (Tz’utujil) Maya I have explored a long-standing tradition of animal carcass and product use for medicinal and medico-ritual purposes. Animal carcasses, portions, and products are curated, processed, and used primarily by women, most often to treat women and children. Materials are sometimes curated over generations, shared with other community members, and used in highly standardized, repeated practices. These activities, including the discard of medicinally used remains, differ from other uses of animals and their products in ways that may be recorded in the archaeological record. These traditions have important implications for zooarchaeological research since they create distinctive use and discard patterns.