Ancient and Modern Maya Exploitation of the Jute Snail (Pachychilus)
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Although the economic basis of the ancient lowland Maya civilization was principally maize agriculture, throughout their long history the Maya remained proficient fishers, hunters, and gatherers. Research increasingly has suggested early and extensive Maya exploitation of the freshwater molluscan speciesPachychilus, called jute by the modern Maya. This report reviews archaeological evidence for use of this stream- and river-dwelling invertebrate and summarizes recent data from the site of Pacbitun, in western Belize.Pachychilusnot only was used for dietary purposes, but occasionally was included in Maya ritual deposits. Ecological information on the habitat ofPachychilusis given, as well as a description of its nutritional value and contemporary methods of collecting and processing jute in the modern Maya community of San Antonio (Cayo), Belize. It is concluded thatPachychiluswas one minor but widespread element of the ancient Maya subsistence regime.Although the economic basis of the ancient lowland Maya civilization was principally maize agriculture, throughout their long history the Maya remained proficient fishers, hunters, and gatherers. Research increasingly has suggested early and extensive Maya exploitation of the freshwater molluscan speciesPachychilus, called jute by the modern Maya. This report reviews archaeological evidence for use of this stream- and river-dwelling invertebrate and summarizes recent data from the site of Pacbitun, in western Belize.Pachychilusnot only was used for dietary purposes, but occasionally was included in Maya ritual deposits. Ecological information on the habitat ofPachychilusis given, as well as a description of its nutritional value and contemporary methods of collecting and processing jute in the modern Maya community of San Antonio (Cayo), Belize. It is concluded thatPachychiluswas one minor but widespread element of the ancient Maya subsistence regime.
