- Missoula, Montana, United States
Kirsten G Mink
Idaho State University, Anthropology, Faculty Member
Research Interests:
Palatial complexes are distinct architectural features within ancient Maya civic ceremonial centers. Maya palaces are commonly multi-roomed complexes featuring attributes such as corbelled roofing, benches, private courtyards, and other... more
Palatial complexes are distinct architectural features within ancient Maya civic ceremonial centers. Maya palaces are commonly multi-roomed complexes featuring attributes such as corbelled roofing, benches, private courtyards, and other decorative attributes. Archaeologists suggest palatial complexes serve as multifunctional spaces for the elite residents. These functions include residential space as well as ritual space for events such as feasts, dances, and other social events. Excavations at the Late Classic site of Lower Dover, located in the Belize Valley, revealed the presence of many of these attributes. This paper discusses results of recent excavations conducted under the auspices of the BVAR Project during the 2016 field season in the palace complex at Lower Dover. The data recovered contributes to our understanding of the site's occupation chronology as well as structural layout and function of the palace. This research further enhances our understanding of Lower Dover's position within the political landscape of the Belize Valley during the Late Classic period.
Research Interests:
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic for archaeology. To assess these trends, we asked survey respondents (n = 570) if they experienced job loss and to rate the percentage of change in their economic situation, workload, teaching or research activities, and personal responsibilities. Results show alarming trends, with nearly half of those who experienced
job loss being under the age of 35 and women and early career archaeologists suffering major economic losses. Impacts to workload, teaching activities, and research activities were also felt across
these groups. Substantial increases in personal responsibilities (childcare, eldercare, caring for sick family members) were also identified, especially for women with children under 18 years of age. While structural inequalities have already been identified across different sectors of archaeology, the
results of this survey suggest the most vulnerable populations are those most heavily affected. We recommend a variety of strategies for employers, professional organizations, funding agencies, and publishers to consider in mitigating the consequences of COVID-19, especially for women and early career scholars.
job loss being under the age of 35 and women and early career archaeologists suffering major economic losses. Impacts to workload, teaching activities, and research activities were also felt across
these groups. Substantial increases in personal responsibilities (childcare, eldercare, caring for sick family members) were also identified, especially for women with children under 18 years of age. While structural inequalities have already been identified across different sectors of archaeology, the
results of this survey suggest the most vulnerable populations are those most heavily affected. We recommend a variety of strategies for employers, professional organizations, funding agencies, and publishers to consider in mitigating the consequences of COVID-19, especially for women and early career scholars.
Research Interests:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and long-term... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic for archaeology. To assess these trends, we asked survey respondents (n = 570) if they experienced job loss and to rate the percentage of change in their economic situation, workload, teaching or research activities, and personal responsibilities. Results show alarming trends, with nearly half of those who experienced job loss being under the age of 35 and women and early career archaeologists suffering major economic losses. Impacts to workload, teaching activities, and research activities were also felt across these groups. Substantial increases in personal responsibilities (childcare, eldercare, caring for sick family members) were also identified, especially for women with children under 18 years of age. While structural...
Research Interests:
Maya archaeologists have long been interested in understanding ancient diets because they provide information about broad-scale economic and societal transformations. Though paleodietary studies have primarily relied on stable carbon... more
Maya archaeologists have long been interested in understanding ancient diets because they provide information about broad-scale economic and societal transformations. Though paleodietary studies have primarily relied on stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic analyses of human bone collagen to document the types of food people consumed, stable sulfur (δ34S) isotope analysis can potentially provide valuable data to identify terrestrial, freshwater, or marine/coastal food sources, as well as determine human mobility and migration patterns. Here we assess applications of δ34S for investigating Maya diet and migration through stable isotope analyses of human bone collagen (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) from 114 individuals from 12 sites in the Eastern Maya lowlands, temporally spanning from the Late Preclassic (300 BCE—300 CE) through Colonial periods (1520–1800 CE). Results document a diet dominated by maize and other terrestrial resources, consistent with expectations for this inlan...
Research Interests:
Maya archaeologists have long been interested in understanding ancient diets because they provide information about broad-scale economic and societal transformations. Though paleodietary studies have primarily relied on stable carbon... more
Maya archaeologists have long been interested in understanding ancient diets because they provide information about broad-scale economic and societal transformations. Though paleodietary studies have primarily relied on stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic analyses of human bone collagen to document the types of food people consumed, stable sulfur (δ34S) isotope analysis can potentially provide valuable data to identify terrestrial, freshwater, or marine/coastal food sources, as well as determine human mobility and migration patterns. Here we assess applications of δ34S for investigating Maya diet and migration through stable isotope analyses of human bone collagen (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) from 114 individuals from 12 sites in the Eastern Maya lowlands, temporally spanning from the Late Preclassic (300 BCE—300 CE) through Colonial periods (1520–1800 CE). Results document a diet dominated by maize and other terrestrial resources, consistent with expectations for this inlan...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and long-term... more
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts in all segments of life worldwide. While a variety of surveys have assessed the impacts of the pandemic in other fields, few studies have focused on understanding the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic for archaeology. To assess these trends, we asked survey respondents (n = 570) if they experienced job loss and to rate the percentage of change in their economic situation, workload, teaching or research activities, and personal responsibilities. Results show alarming trends, with nearly half of those who experienced job loss being under the age of 35 and women and early career archaeologists suffering major economic losses. Impacts to workload, teaching activities, and research activities were also felt across these groups. Substantial increases in personal responsibilities (childcare, eldercare, caring for sick family members) were also identified, especially for women with children under 18 years of age. While structural inequalities have already been identified across different sectors of archaeology, the results of this survey suggest the most vulnerable populations are those most heavily affected. We recommend a variety of strategies for employers, professional organizations, funding agencies, and publishers to consider in mitigating the consequences of COVID-19, especially for women and early career scholars.
Research Interests:
This paper reports on a burial discovered in 2000 by the BVAR project in Plaza G of the Cahal Pech site core. Our stratigraphic data indicated that the grave had penetrated the last two plaza floors in the courtyard. The fact that neither... more
This paper reports on a burial discovered in 2000 by the BVAR project in Plaza G of the Cahal Pech site core. Our stratigraphic data indicated that the grave had penetrated the last two plaza floors in the courtyard. The fact that neither of these floors were subsequently resurfaced strongly suggested that the burial was intrusive. The grave contained the remains of a young individual in fetal position and with no grave goods. Ever since its discovery in 2000, we had generally assumed that this interment, like several other intrusive burials at Cahal Pech, dated to the Terminal Classic period (~AD 750-900). Recent radiocarbon dating of purified bone collagen, combined with geochemical analysis of the skeletal remains, however, negate our previous assumptions and suggest that the individual in Plaza G Burial 1 is neither local nor ancient. In this paper, we present results of our attempts to unravel the mystery of the burial we have come to call Cahal Pech's Jane or John Doe.
This paper reports on a burial discovered in 2000 by the BVAR project in Plaza G of the Cahal Pech site core. Our stratigraphic data indicated that the grave had penetrated the last two plaza floors in the courtyard. The fact that neither... more
This paper reports on a burial discovered in 2000 by the BVAR project in Plaza G of the Cahal Pech site core. Our stratigraphic data indicated that the grave had penetrated the last two plaza floors in the courtyard. The fact that neither of these floors were subsequently resurfaced strongly suggested that the burial was intrusive. The grave contained the remains of a young individual in fetal position and with no grave goods. Ever since its discovery in 2000, we had generally assumed that this interment, like several other intrusive burials at Cahal Pech, dated to the Terminal Classic period (~AD 750-900). Recent radiocarbon dating of purified bone collagen, combined with geochemical analysis of the skeletal remains, however, negate our previous assumptions and suggest that the individual in Plaza G Burial 1 is neither local nor ancient. In this paper, we present results of our attempts to unravel the mystery of the burial we have come to call Cahal Pech's Jane or John Doe.
Research Interests:
The Late (AD 500-700) to Terminal (AD 700-900) Classic transition in the Maya Southern Lowlands has been defined as a period of decline and large scale migrations out of ceremonial centers. The reduced access to food due to multi-decadal... more
The Late (AD 500-700) to Terminal (AD 700-900) Classic transition in the Maya Southern Lowlands has been defined as a period of decline and large scale migrations out of ceremonial centers. The reduced access to food due to multi-decadal droughts severely affected the social and political environments during this period. Previous research focused on large scale geographic migration and diet in this area. What is less understood is the degree and direction of migration at a site-specific level, as well as the community’s specific response through time. This research uses the human remains along with their associated mortuary artifacts from the site of Cahal Pech, Cayo District, Belize in order to understand one community’s response to environmental stress during the Late to Terminal Classic period. Several multivariate statistical analyses were run on a comprehensive stable isotope plan (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, 86Sr/87Sr, and δ18O) and mortuary database for 27 individuals from the site core. These result were then compared to models created by the author in order to find a best fit. This research found that migration into and out of Cahal Pech was occurring at a similar rate over time and that almost all individuals that showed non-local isotope signatures came from the Macal River region south of the site. The mortuary patterns do not trend on time period, age and sex, origin of the individual, or location of the burial at the site. Rather, the mortuary patterns initially cluster based on grave type and presence or absence of certain grave goods. The findings show no effect during the transition from the Late to Terminal Classic based on the mortuary and bioarchaeological data. This unexpected result may be due to sampling only the Cahal Pech core, possibly representing elite individuals buffered from the worst effects of deteriorating environmental conditions. In order to understand if this is a unique occurrence or regionally expressed, future research will need to be undertaken with broader parameters.
Research Interests:
The reconstruction of subsistence strategies using stable isotope analyses is integral to understanding the role of maize agriculture in the development and decline of ancient Maya society. Here we present stable carbon, nitrogen, and... more
The reconstruction of subsistence strategies using stable isotope analyses is integral to understanding the role of maize agriculture in the development and decline of ancient Maya society. Here we present stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur isotope data from over 230 radiocarbon dated human skeletal remains from western Belize dating from the Preclassic through Colonial periods (~1000 BC-AD 1700). Stable isotope data are also compared to paleoclimate proxy records to interpret the climatic contexts for changing agricultural practices. Results indicate that the Preclassic (1000 BC-AD 300) Maya of western Belize had diverse diets incorporating both maize and wild foods, which may have promoted resilience in the face of social reorganization and changing ecological systems at the end of the Preclassic period. During the Classic period (AD 300-900/1000), inter-individual isotopic variations indicate that high-status individuals had a narrow and highly specialized maize-based diet, which may have created a more vulnerable socioeconomic system that disintegrated due in part to drought conditions during the Terminal Classic period. While maize continued to be a dietary staple through the Postclassic and Colonial periods, agricultural systems were impacted by severe multi-year droughts that resulted in high levels of mortality and migration across the Yucatán Peninsula.