Tamales for everyone! Deer and domestic dog consumption at Chinikihá banquets

Abstract

This paper presents a traditional zooarchaeological study combined with an analysis of stable isotopes (carbon and nitrogen), of faunal remainsmainly from the archaeological site of Chinikihá. Our objective was to determine the diversity of the natural resources to which the inhabitantsof the archaeological site had access during the Late Classic period and to compare the different ways in which wild and domestic animals wereobtained and used as part of ritual feasting events. Although we address Mayan food practices in the Late Classic period, we will focus on discussingthose pertinent to Chinikihá and its surroundings.