Market place could prove that Maya traded: 05-12-2007
A new study has found that an ancient market place existed in a Maya city located in the Yucatan Peninsula.
The new research provides a picture of the ancient Maya economy and challenges theories that food was taxed and dispersed by Maya rulers as opposed to being bought and traded.
Due to the wet climate of the area, traces of food decompose very quickly, making it difficult for archaeologists to uncover evidence for the distribution of food in the Maya's economy.
But organic matter and food leave behind traces of phosphorus in the soil particles and by comparing the amount of phosphorous in the soil in Chunchucmil with the soil in Antigua archaeologists could draw conclusions.
According to reports from National Geographic, Richard Terry, an environmental scientist from Brigham Young University in Utah, believes the analysis provides evidence for trade patterns.
"Traditionally we've thought the tax-tribute system was responsible for distributing goods. But this shows that the Maya not only had a marketplace and a market economy but an important middle class of merchants as well," he said.
Today, the Yucatan Peninsula is full of Mayan archaeological zones including the Pyramid of Kukulcan, where visitors can see the show image of a plumed serpent appear of the pyramid stairs every spring equinox.
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