Chapter 1

Author: Gabrielle Vail

Title: Cacao Use in Yucatan among the Prehispanic Maya

Cacao has played an important role in the economic, ritual, and political life of the prehispanic Maya, and remains significant to many contemporary Maya communities. Beverages and foods containing cacao are described in hieroglyphic texts, especially marriage ceremonies and scenes of daily life in the royal court. During prehispanic times, cacao beans served as units of currency and were important items of tribute. Cacao use in the Mayan region of Central America dates more than 2,500 years ago based upon chemical analysis of remains recovered from various vessels in Belize and elsewhere. The focus of the present chapter considers cacao use among societies occupying the northern Maya lowlands, especially the Yucatan peninsula. Depictions of cacao use in Mayan religion figure prominently in the Dresden and Madrid Codices. The sustained production and use of cacao by Mayan societies of different eras and regions point to the enduring quality of this food as a gift from the gods.

Next
Back to Chapter Overview page