98 



coast of Quintana Roo, the following taxa were taken by the Maya during 100-1500 A.D., prior to the 

 arrival of the Spanish: about 40 taxa of fishes and aabs, 4 taxa of amphibians (frogs and toads), 10 

 taxa of reptiles, 38 taxa of birds, and 16 taxa of mammals (Hamblin, 1984, 1985; Hamblin and Rea, 

 1985). While many of these taxa were found in ceremonial and administrative buildings and may have 

 been taken for these purposes, the fact that others were found in housemounds suggested that these 

 specimens were taken for subsistence purposes. Although Cozumel is located on the Caribbean Sea and 

 X-Hazil Sur is located about 50 km inland, a comparison between sites is appropriate because of their 

 proximity (ca. 175 km), similar climate and vegetation, and settlement patterns. Other archeological 

 studies in the Yucatan also indicated that the diet of the prehistoric Maya was much more diverse than 

 that of present day Maya (Wing, 1974; Wing and Steadman, 1980). 



The relatively small number of game species taken by hunters at X-Hazil Sur was also 

 unexpected when compared with the other species of birds and mammals found locally, but not taken 

 for subsistence purposes. For example, the following mammals occur in Quintana Roo (Leopold, 

 1977; Navarro et al., 1990) and are widely taken for subsistence purposes throughout the Neotropics 

 (e.g., Hames, 1979; Stearman, 1990), but were not taken by Maya hunters at X-Hazil Sur; squirrel 

 {Sciurus spp.), armadillo (Dasypus novemcincius), tapir (Tapirus bairdii), howler monkey (Alouatta 

 pigra), spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), kinkajou (Potosflavus), tayra (Eira barbara), and opossum 

 (Didelphis virginiana). This pattern of occurring in Quintana Roo, but not being used for subsistence 

 purposes also was the case for many taxa of birds. Hunters at X-Hazil Sur, for example, generally did 

 not take parrots (Psittacidae) or doves (Columbidae) for subsistence purposes, but these taxa occur at 

 X-Hazil Sur and are widely hunted throughout the Neotropics. Parrots and doves at X-Hazil Sur, 

 however, were killed as noxious animals when they fed on crops. That these species were present at 

 X-Hazil Sur, but not harvested, could suggest that they were not acceptable to Maya hunters or that 

 these kills were not reported during the study. More likely, however, the limited number of game 

 species taken was sufficient to meet the subsistence needs of hunters. 



