Diet and Mobility Patterns at the Classic Maya Urban Center of Comalcalco using Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Analysis from Tooth Enamel

The Classic Mayan site of Comalcalco, located in modern-day Tabasco, Mexico, shows evidence of a relatively fast population growth as the urban center formed and expanded into a regional power. While extensive research has investigated ancient Maya diet and mobility patterns across Mesoamerica, very few projects have examined these patterns at sites located in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec — a cultural boundary between ancient Maya and Zapotec civilizations. Comalcalco’s international architecture, distinctive material culture, and geographic position warrants research into its demographic dynamics. The ceremonial diversity encourages the idea that the population of Comalcalco may have origins from a variety of cultural regions in the Maya region and broadly across Mesoamerica. This project uses stable carbon and oxygen isotopic analysis on the first & third molars from 12 individuals recovered in urn burials at Comalcalco to examine diet and mobility patterns represented by the formation of each permanent tooth. This approach allows for multiple measurements on an individual during childhood and adolescent periods of their lives and whether they are living in the same location or traversing across the region - resulting in an isotopic profile of each individual.