Growing Up Maya. Gender, Identity and Dynasty

Abstract

This chapter complements the general survey of geographic preferences and gradual shifts in Classic period head-modeling practices in Mesoamerica by exemplifying their local roles and embedded ideological meanings for the ancient Maya. With its rich legacy of writing, art, and abundance of material vestiges, the data-rich Maya area, the hub of Mesoamerican research, is especially well suited to such an endeavor. More than most other Mesoamerican cultural settings, this study environment (and the host of Mayanist research available today) concedes more nuanced and culturally embedded interpretations. For the purposes of this volume, I will refer to my own systematic cranial survey of 2,000 crania from the Maya area, including 1,200 individuals dated to the Classic period. The latter span 91 Classic period Maya sites from southern and southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras (Tiesler, Transformarse en maya. El modelado cefálico entre los mayas prehispánicos y coloniales, 2012). The documented distribution of head form over the Maya cultural landscape follows some of the Mayan vernacular language divisions during the Classic period and points to their significance as visible emblems of group affiliation. Conversely, the Maya did not revert to head modeling to signify ascribed roles of aristocracy, where the noblesse displayed similar head shapes to those of their commoner underlings. The regional survey is complemented by local glimpses of Maya head-modeling customs. To this end, two large and well-documented skeletal series: are examined. One speaks for the urban neighbors of Classic period Copán, in present-day Honduras; the second case study examines the merchant folk from Xcambó, a small salt production center on the northern shores of Yucatán.