Maya paleodemographics: What do we know?

A demographic shift occurred between the Late-Terminal Classic and Post-Classic periods at Maya settlements, marked by reduced life expectancy (below 30 years), high infant mortality, and decreased adult survival beyond 50 years. This transition also saw population mobility and deteriorating living conditions, leading to lower fertility rates. The study analyzed data from coastal Yucatan sites like Jaina, Chac Mool, El Meco, and Xcambó, as well as urban centers Palenque and Copan, using paleodemographic methods to assess mortality, survival, life expectancy, fertility, and migration patterns. Classic-period populations exhibited high birth rates (6 children per woman) and life expectancies of 20–42.2 years, while Post-Classic settlements showed adverse health trends and mobility, contrasting with El Meco and Xcambó's higher growth rates.

Olga Hernández Espinoza, P., & Márquez Morfín, L. (2015). Maya paleodemographics: What do we know? American Journal of Human Biology, 27(6), 747–757. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22751