| Ancient diet was assessed for individuals from Central Belize using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of human skeletal materials. Samples were recovered from eight archaeological sites, and ranged in time from the Late Preclassic (300 BCE-100 CE) to the Postclassic (between 925 and 1530 CE) periods.The diet in Central Belize during this timeframe was revealed to be based on maize and maize-fed or marine proteins, supplemented with C3 food sources. Variation was detected between the individuals, and the site of Pakal Na was a clear outlier, having the greatest reliance on C4 maize. Temporalchange in diet was also measured for nine individuals using samples of bone, tooth dentin, and tooth enamel, which revealed that dietary changes from childhoodto adulthood werenot uniform.This study demonstrates that variation in diet between individuals is likely caused by a number of factors.Keywords: Ancient Maya, Belize, stable isotopes, diet, carbon, nitrogen, collagen, carbonate. |