Study shows big game was in big demand: 20-11-2007
The growing demand for animals of symbolic value may have caused a decline in big game in Latin America, a new study suggests.
The Maya elite may have ordered the killing of more large mammals whose meat, skins and teeth provide proof of power and status, the study claims.
By tracking the proportions of bones found from large animals such as jaguars and white-tailed deer as well as smaller game like rabbits the study has found that there were more large animal remains when the Maya was most prosperous (AD 600 to 900).
But by AD 900 to 1500 there is less evidence of big game and bones of small animals are found more often.
Kitty Emery, an archaeologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, conducted the study of 800,000 bones to map the hunting effects.
"A depression in large-game availability caused by the demands of too many people and too many elites," said Ms Emery.
Originating from Mexico and central America, the remaining Maya are mainly based on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
The tribe provide a fascinating insight for tourists interested in Mexican culture and history.