Gender and Health Among the Colonial Maya of Tipu, Belize

Authors

Marie E. Danforth, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Keith P. Jacobi, Alabama Museum of Natural History
Mark Nathan Cohen, State University of New YorkFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 1997

Department

Anthropology and Sociology

Abstract

The health of the Colonial-period Maya from Tipu, Belize, was evaluated using a skeletal series to explore differential effects of European contact by sex. Variables addressed were nutrition and disease patterns, reproductive patterns, and occupational stress. Results suggest that females enjoyed fewer childhood health disruptions, likely as a result of greater genetic buffering. No evidence of male preferential treatment was observed. Frequencies of indicators were similar to those reported for precontact Maya. Markers of adult activity patterns, including timing of parity, were also comparable to those of earlier groups. These findings support the cultural continuity with the Postclassic suggested by the archaeological and ethnohistorical records at Tipu.

Publication Title

Ancient Mesoamerica

Volume

8

Issue

1

First Page

13

Last Page

22

Recommended Citation

Danforth, M. E., Jacobi, K. P., Cohen, M. N. (1997). Gender and Health Among the Colonial Maya of Tipu, Belize. Ancient Mesoamerica, 8(1), 13-22.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15376