The ancient Mayan metropolis of Ceibal was once a world where dogs were served up as food and big cats kept as darling . Today , it ’s an archaeological gold mine . Buried beneath its surface are the bones and tooth of more ancient fauna that researchers say offer some of theearliest evidencefor trading and domesticating animals in the Americas .
They used a multi - isotopic approach to date the stiff find at Guatemala ’s 3,000 - class - old site . base on an animal ’s diet , the isotopic levels – or chemical elements – come up in their bones and teeth will depart . investigator dissect the ratio of isotope in the osseous tissue collagen of two frump and one large cat that go out back to the Maya Middle Preclassic period ( 1000 - 350 BC ) . The clay were high in carbon and nitrogen isotopes , which bespeak the animals were fed corn by humans and possibly start at an early age .
Strontium isotopes were also get in tooth enamel , mean some of the andiron probably come from distant volcanic highland .
" The study shows that the ancient Maya in all likelihood managed wild animals and moved animate being , such as dog , foresighted distances as far back as 2,400 years ago , " say report writer Ashley Sharpe in an electronic mail to IFLScience . " These ' alien ' and captive animals might have been used for nutrient , but because some were found in special circumstance ( Pyramid ) , it seems more probable that they were used for ceremonies and for the elite group to show off as demonstration of their power . "
Because these corpse were found in the urban center ’s ceremonial core , research worker believe they were " significant " in some way . Whether the animate being were raised as pets , eaten as nutrient , or used as sacrifices rest a bit of a mystery story .
" We sometimes see uncivilized quat with human in ancient art , including Felis onca sonny check by kings . I distrust the early big cat at Ceibal is evidence that people had been get and raising risky cats for centuries in Central America , " said Sharpe . " Possibly they did it for ceremonial display of power – a alike case that happened latterly was the last Brazil Olympics , where they brought a live Panthera onca out on stage during the blowtorch ceremony ! "
Dogs , on the other deal , were probably used as intellectual nourishment , says Sharpe .
Only a little subset of the thou of animal bone find at Ceibal were tested . grounds of nonlocal deer , barbarian pigs , turkeys , opossums , and tapir indicate that these animals were perhaps “ part of the market economy that exist at that fourth dimension , ” concord to the study release inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
The Ceibalheritage siteis threatened by a number of human influences , including drug gangs , illegal logging , and pollution from agricultural overspill . Sharpe enjoin she hopes both the Guatemalan government and its people take " potent action " to protect Ceibal and other parks like it , but the employment does n’t terminate there .
" Archaeologists and other scientists work the parks should sample to bring up awareness of these problems too , and report illegal activity to the Guatemala government when they see it , " she said . " I believe a mess of people see it easier to not say anything , but I do n’t consider that ’s a root . "
