181 



At least three studies have examined hunting with respect to gardens and shifting cultivation in 

 Mesoamerica. Based on an archeological analysis of animal bones found in middens at Cerro Brujo, a 

 forested area in northern Panama, Linares (1976) concluded that subsistence hunting by Cerro Brujo 

 hunters was sustainable and conducted in accordance with ecological relationships that were exploited 

 by these people. According to Linares (1976), the interspersion of small gardens in the forest around 

 the settlement enhanced the populations of certain species of wildlife. The local wildlife populations 

 were enhanced because they regularly fed on the crops planted in the gardens. Cerro Brujo hunters in 

 turn exploited the increased wildlife populations. This relationship, called "garden hunting" by Linares 

 (1976), described an association between hunters and prey that depends upon gardens. In garden 

 hunting, the prey animal species, due to the garden, benefit from the additional food resources 

 available, and the Cerro Brujo hunters, also because of the garden, benefit from the additional game 

 available. 



The beneficial relationship between wildlife and shifting cultivation also has been documented 

 in contemporary studies beyond Panama. For example, the Lacandon Maya in southern Mexico 

 practice garden hunting. Based upon an analysis of plant and wildlife use of gardens, fallowed 

 gardens, and the surrounding forest. Nations and Nigh (1980:17) made two observations relevant to this 

 ch^ter: "the acahual [fallowed garden] attracts many animals of interest to humans," and "the majority 

 of the animals attracted to the acahual cannot live from that area alone; they must also complete critical 

 periods of their life cycle in other environments." These observations reinforce Linares' (1976) 

 hypothesis that the interspersion of gardens in forest has enhanced hunting and wildlife densities and 

 has resulted in a dependent relationship between gardens and the populations of many wildlife species. 



The present study was designed to test some of Linares' (1976) hypotheses by examining 

 garden hunting in a forested area in southeastern Mexico that is populated by Maya Indians who 

 practice subsistence hunting and shifting cultivation. Specifically, this study proposed to characterize 

 Maya gardens and to quantify their use by wild animals. In designing this study about gardens and 

 wildlife, several factors had to be considered: One, not all adult Maya ejido residents planted gardens 



