Paleodemographic Simulations at Xcambó, Yucatan: Early and Late Classic Population Dynamics in the Northern Maya Territories

Abstract

Paleodemographic simulations are rare in the Maya region, because generally the skeletal collections do not represent well the ancient living population, are poorly preserved, and lead to flawed age-at-death estimations. The skeletal collection of Xcambó, however, is suitable for paleodemographic analysis and is large enough to enable comparison of paleodemographic trends between the Early (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750) periods. Three demographic simulations were generated; two relied on growth rates calculated from the site's previous archaeodemographic data, and a third simulation was based on a stationary scenario by applying Weiss's (1973) and Séguy and Buchet's (2013) models. All simulations indicate that Xcambó’s Late Classic population was growing faster than its Early Classic peers, with higher rates of survivorship and more severe mortality rates. We argue that the differences are more likely due to shifts in lifestyle and wealth than to environmental changes, as is confirmed by other bioarchaeological and skeletal indicators.

Estimation of Early Classic Maya Population: Methodological Challenges and Modeling at Naachtun, Guatemala

“…Webster and Freter (1990b:49) proposed an average household size of five members during rapid growth and of four in periods of slower growth (see also Tourtellot 1983:1074–1075; Turner and Lofgren 1966). Ortega-Muñoz and colleagues (2020) recently calculated that at Xcambó, life expectancy was shorter and mortality (particularly maternal) higher during the Early Classic than during the Late Classic period. However, high mortality can be compensated for by an increased birth rate.…”