Dissertation Research: A Bioarchaeological Approach to the Maya Collapse: Diet, Health and Demography in the Pasion Zone, Guatemala

论文研究：玛雅崩溃的生物考古学方法：危地马拉激情区的饮食、健康和人口统计

• 批准号: 9112561
• 负责人: Jane Buikstra
• 金额: $ 1.18万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1991
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1991-08-01 至 1994-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9112561&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Bioarchaeological; Approach; Maya

Many theories have been put forward to account for the collapse of the Maya civilization approximately 1,000 years ago. Some hypothesized that continuously shifting political forces led to instability and ecological disruption. Through the analysis of skeletal material, this research proposes to test implications of the politico-ecological hypothesis. Chemical analysis of skeletal remains can yield information on dietary factors through the characterization of carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Dietary inadequacies and general state of health also marks the remains through the appearance of paleopathological indicators. Demographics can be estimated through the determination of age at death and sex from skeletal remains. The hypothesis makes specific predictions as to the diet,health and demography of the Maya just prior to the collapse. The research allows these predictions to be tested.

人们提出了许多理论来解释大约 1000 年前玛雅文明的崩溃。 一些人假设，不断变化的政治力量导致了不稳定和生态破坏。 通过对骨骼材料的分析，本研究旨在检验政治生态假说的含义。 骨骼遗骸的化学分析可以通过碳和氮同位素的表征来获得有关饮食因素的信息。 饮食不足和总体健康状况也通过古病理学指标的出现来标记遗骸。 可以通过确定死亡年龄和骨骼遗骸的性别来估计人口统计数据。 该假说对玛雅人崩溃前的饮食、健康和人口统计做出了具体的预测。 这项研究使这些预测得到了检验。