Abstract

Ethnoarchaeological research with the Itza Maya reveals a long-standing tradition of animal use for medicinal and medico-ritual purposes. Animals are curated, whole or in part, for use in curing primarily women and children. Some knowledge of medicinal animal use is shared among most women and many men, but other knowledge is specific to ritual healers. Medicinal use activities vary by species and animal portion/body part, materials are often curated over generations, and curated specimens are shared with other community members. These traditions have important implications for zooarchaeological research since they create distinctive discard and non-discard patterns.