Population and Demographic Shifts Along the Coast of Yucatan From the Early to Late Classic: A View From Xcambo, Mexico

Abstract

We take an archaeodemographic approach and provide new insights into the population and demographic shifts of the prehispanic site of Xcambo, Yucatan, Mexico. Located in the coastal marshlands, Xcambo functioned as a salt production locale, administration center, and port during the Early Classic (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750) periods. Sierra-Sosa extensively excavated the settlement, and more than 600 skeletons, representative of all age groups, were recovered. We apply growth simulation models that combine archaeo- and paleodemographic approaches. Our simulation specifically takes into account Wood's (1998) theorem. Results show that Xcambo grew slowly during the Early Classic, with estimated figures ranging from about 860 individuals at the onset of the period to some 1,073 at the end. During the Late Classic, populations ranged from about 1,103 to 1,728 people at its peak occupation (AD 625). Eventually population drastically declined due to out-migration. During this last stage, the settlement had to face the consequences of political and economic shifts in the area. Considered jointly, both approaches provide a new research venue, because their application documents the population profiles and growth of a typical Maya coastal site over its 500 years of occupation.

Apartment Compounds, Households, and Population in the Ancient City of Teotihuacan, Mexico

“…Second, there are few analogs for estimating the degree of contemporaneous occupation at Teotihuacan, mainly because there are very few sites in the central highlands with the same degree of structural preservation. In the Maya area, it is common to assume a 10 percent disuse factor, in addition to any reductions in occupancy based on problems of the contemporaneity of occupation within a phase, which can range from 0–45 percent in modern estimations (Culbert and Rice 1990; Inomata et al 2018; Ortega-Muñoz et al 2018). Given the high construction costs and durability of Teotihuacan apartment compounds, however, it is more likely that there was a certain level of sub-maximum occupancy of compounds, rather than cycles of disuse and reoccupation of entire compounds, which effectively combines the short-term disuse and longer-term contemporaneity factors used in the Maya area.…”

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

“…En el presente trabajo se elaboran tres simulaciones demográficas que se fundan en diferentes escenarios de tasas de crecimiento. Dos simulaciones aplican las estimaciones paleodemográficas de crecimiento previamente planteadas por Ortega-Muñoz y colaboradores (2018), en tanto que la tercera opera con el supuesto de estacionariedad y aplica dos distintas elaboraciones de tablas de vida (Weiss 1973; Séguy and Buchet 2013). Los resultados muestran poblaciones en crecimiento en todas las elaboraciones y ambas metodologías, distinguiendo la Clásica tardía de la Clásica temprana por sus tasas de sobrevivencia y de mortalidad aumentadas.…”

“…The location of Xcambó and the characteristics of the soil made possible the preservation of some 600 skeletons of both sexes and representative of all ranges of age-at-death. Moreover, the detailed contextual and chronological information permitted the hypothetical archaeological re-creation of population density and growth during the Early (AD 250–550) and Late Classic (AD 550–750; Ortega-Muñoz et al 2018). In turn, this imbricated contextual reconstruction provides the basis for addressing the structural paleodemography of Xcambó's settlers, based on the age-at-death and sex distribution of the skeletal sample.…”

“…Relying on Ortega-Muñoz and coauthors’ (2018) archaeodemographic approach, and given the considerable size, documentation, and preservation of this skeletal series, this article reconstructs and discusses the demographic dynamics that occurred at the site during the two phases of occupation. As we argue in detail later, these two phases, despite being continuous in time, are characterized by different socioeconomic and living conditions (Sierra-Sosa et al 2014).…”

“…As we argue in detail later, these two phases, despite being continuous in time, are characterized by different socioeconomic and living conditions (Sierra-Sosa et al 2014). By exploring two different scenarios of low and high growth rates for each period of occupation (Ortega-Muñoz et al 2018), our research design is able to assess whether and to what extent the site's socioeconomic shift from a low-density population settlement, devoted to fishing and salt production, to a densely settled, relatively autonomous administrative center of salt production, administration, and trade affected the demographic characteristics of the local population.…”