This file was generated on 2026-02-26 by Paul Graf, Version 01.


A GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of the dataset:
"Asymmetrical Dependency and Resource Control Among the Classic Maya of the Southern Lowlands"

2. Brief description of the research project and its aims: 
	Premodern societies in tropical environments lived under extreme conditions that influenced their social structure. In the Classic Maya society in the Southern Maya Lowlands of the Yucatan Peninsula, human–environment interactions contributed to the emergence of strong inequalities between different social groups. But in which way were these groups entangled with each other? 
	This project was developed in the context of a PhD dissertation (Graf 2026) and includes different types of data. The research project explored different forms of asymmetrical dependency among the Classic Maya. It considered distinct individual actors and social roles (captives, servants, dwarfs), and intergroup relationships between households and neighborhoods. The latter was studied by examining the role of essential resources, i.e., tangible and intangible things that are considered vital or morally necessary for individuals in their social environment. The goal consisted of identifying unbalanced power relations based on the control of essential resources and revealing the social mechanisms that legitimated these asymmetrical relationships in society.
	The project pursued a multidisciplinary methodology consisting of different approaches from environmental archaeology, digital archaeology, ethnoarchaeology, ethnohistory and linguistics. Archaeological fieldwork was conducted in the western periphery of Tzikin Tzakan and southwest Tamarindito in the Petén region of Guatemala. Remote-sensing and ground-truthing techniques were used to create a representative sample of resource zones, residential areas, infrastructure, and certain landscape features. This data was processed in a geographic information system in order to study interaction spheres and draw their spatial connection using Least Cost Path and other analyses. Apart from the archaeological case study, forms of asymmetrical dependency in the Classic Maya society were reconstructed by conducting a lexical analysis of emic terms in different Mayan languages (emic = from an intracultural view).
	It was concluded that various forms of asymmetrical dependency existed in the Classic Maya society, including captive-taking, patronage, servitude and exploitation for tribute and corvée labor. Furthermore, it was pointed out that fictional kinship relations and moral values, including the moral aspect of resources, played a crucial role in legitimizing these asymmetrical relationships.

3. Author Information
	A. Investigator Contact Information
		Name: Paul Graf
		Institution: Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, University of Bonn
		Address: Niebuhrstr. 5, D-53113 Bonn
		Email: paul.graf@uni-bonn.de

	B. Project Supervisor (Principal Investigator) Contact Information
		Name: Prof. Dr. Nikolai Grube
		Institution: Institut für Archäologie und Kulturanthropologie Abteilung für Altamerikanistik und Ethnologie, University of Bonn
		Address: Oxfordstr. 15, D-53111 Bonn
		Email: ngrube@uni-bonn.de

	C. In case of questions related to this dataset, please contact:
		Name: Paul Graf
		Institution: Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, University of Bonn
		Address: Niebuhrstr. 5, D-53113 Bonn
		Email: paul.graf@uni-bonn.de 

4. Date of data collection <single date, range, approximate date; format YYYY-MM-DD>: 
	2019-10-01 to 2024-10-20

5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: 
	This research received funding from the cluster of excellence EXC 2036, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – Projektnummer 390683433: Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS).

6. Language of the dataset:
	English (Suppl.-1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, [12a], [12b], [12c]),
	Spanish (Suppl.-[4], 6a, 6b, 10, [12a], [12b], [12c])

7. Geographic location of data collection: 
	Archaeological site Tzikin Tzakan, Petén, Guatemala, WGS84 17.032379 -89.242951
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

B DATA & FILE OVERVIEW

1. File List:

All tables are provided in XLSX format (proprietary of Microsoft) and additionally in CSV format to reduce barriers. Please note, however, that additional information such as formatting for better visibility and colored highlights with the respective legends are not included in the CSV files. When several tables are included in an XLSX file, each table is provided in an individual CSV file. Cells with no data are marked as NA.
One of the files, File 3, is an r-script provided in the respective non-propietary format.

File set 1:
...\01_ModelsMayaPolitics.xlsx
...\01_ModelsMayaPolitics_1.csv
...\01_ModelsMayaPolitics_2-bib.csv
File set 2:
...\02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica.xlsx
...\02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica_1.csv
...\02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica_2-abbr.csv
...\02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica_3-bib.csv
File 3:
...\03_R_script_EM38_data_filtering.R
File set 4:
...\04_Excavation_database_2021_2025.xlsx
...\04_Excavation_database_2021_2025.csv
File set 5:
...\05_RemoteSensingPostprocess.xlsx
...\05_RemoteSensingPostprocess_1-TZ.csv
...\05_RemoteSensingPostprocess_2-TAM.csv
File set 6:
...\06a_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2021.xlsx
...\06a_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2021.csv
File set 7:
...\06b_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2022.xlsx
...\06b_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2022_1-Op2.csv
...\06b_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2022_2-Op9.csv
...\06b_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2022_3-Op12.csv
File set 8:
...\07_TZ_ShellAnalysis_2021-2022.xlsx
...\07_TZ_ShellAnalysis_2021-2022.csv
File set 9:
...\08_Essential_resources_SML.xlsx
...\08_Essential_resources_SML.csv
File set 10:
...\09_Essential_food_SML.xlsx
...\09_Essential_food_SML_1.csv
...\09_Essential_food_SML_2-bib.csv
File set 11:
...\10_Trees_houses_2018.xlsx
...\10_Trees_houses_2018_1.csv
...\10_Trees_houses_2018_2-ethno.csv
...\10_Trees_houses_2018_3-bib.csv
...\10_Trees_houses_2018_4-datasets.csv
File set 12:
...\11_TZ_LCP_Resources_Dependency.xlsx
...\11_TZ_LCP_Resources_Dependency_1.csv
...\11_TZ_LCP_Resources_Dependency_2.csv
File set 13:
...\12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol.xlsx
...\12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol_1.csv
...\12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol_2.csv
...\12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol_3-observ.csv
...\12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol_4-bib.csv
File set 14:
...\12b_Lexic_Kichean.xlsx
...\12b_Lexic_Kichean_1.csv
...\12b_Lexic_Kichean_2-observ.csv
...\12b_Lexic_Kichean_3-bib.csv
File set 15:
...\12c_Lexic_Tzeltalan.xlsx
...\12c_Lexic_Tzeltalan_1.csv
...\12c_Lexic_Tzeltalan_2-bib.csv

2.  Are there multiple versions of the dataset?
	No

3. Relationship between files: 
	File sets 6 through 8 (Suppl.-6 and 7), containing archaeological materials, are connected to the archaeological database in File set 4 (Suppl.-4).
	File sets 10 through 11 (Suppl.-9 and 10) are connected to and were used as evidence for the evaluation of essential resources in File set 9 (Suppl.-8).
	File sets 13 through 15 (Suppl.-12) are part of the same lexical analysis of emic terms, but for different language branches.

4. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: 
	The following data is not included in the data package due to sensitive content (e.g., geographic information) and/or lack of distribution rights from third parties (e.g., the directors of the Tzikin Tzakan Archaeological Project, and the Bonn Center for Digital Humanities):
	- Photographs and drawings of archaeological excavations, findings and landscapes, as well as derived 3D models.
	- Drone imagery and derived 3D models.
	- Geophysical raw and processed data, including files in N38, M38, xyz, and csv format.
	- Satellite imagery (raw and processed) from different providers.
	- GIS and mapping files, including project files, vector and raster data.
	- Cytoscape project file.
	- Other R scripts (LCP script provided by the BCDH).
This data can be provided upon request after the investigator has reviewed the exact purpose.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

C SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION

1. Was data derived from another source? yes: 
See bibliography and dataset lists,
	"01_ModelsMayaPolitics_2-bib"
	"02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica_3-bib"
	"09_Essential_food_SML_2-bib"
	"10_Trees_houses_2018_3-bib"
	"10_Trees_houses_2018_4-datasets"
	"12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol_4-bib"
	"12b_Lexic_Kichean_3-bib"
	"12c_Lexic_Tzeltalan_2-bib"

2. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: 
	Users can share, adapt, and build upon the data for non-commercial purposes, provided they credit the original creator (CC BY 4.0).

3. Links to publications that cite or use the data: 
	Graf, Paul. 2026. Asymmetrical Dependency and Resource Control Among the Classic Maya of the Southern Lowlands: The Social Impact of Resource-Based Dependency Relationships in Premodern Societies. PhD dissertation. De Gruyter, Berlin, forthcoming.
4. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: 
	None
5. Links/relationships to ancillary datasets: 
	None

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

D METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION

1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: 

	Suppl.-1 and 2 are based on literature research. In addition, Suppl.-1 was created using a concordance method based on an advanced search for defined tokens in a large corpus of PDF files.
	Suppl.-3 was mostly created custom-made with basic R tools in RStudio, with exception of the package "purrr", which was additionally downloaded from CRAN.
	Suppl.-4 is the product of field data acquisition using a custom-made formular on a tablet with the sailforms app. The data was converted to CSV format and later modified in Excel.
	Suppl.-5 reports postprocessing measures for calibrating spatial data, which were executed in QGIS.
	Suppl.-6 contains the ceramics analysis done by Omar Schwendener using a mix of Type-Variety and Vessel-based (Vajilla) methods based on photos and the archaeological materials themselves.
	Suppl.-7 contains the shell analysis done by Annkatrin Benz based on photos.
	Suppl.-8 is a multidisciplinary evaluation of essential resources in the Southern Maya Lowlands. It is based on ethnographic, archaeological and ecological literature as well as nutritional data (cf. Suppl.-9 and 10). The extended discussion of the data can be found in Graf 2026.
	Suppl.-9 is a compilation of food sources and their nutrition values, as a result of an exhaustive search. The sources used for this assessment are listed in the bibliography annexed. 
	Suppl.-10 is a evaluation of tree species used in traditional Maya house construction in the central Maya Lowlands. It was elaborated with a multidisciplinary methodology using ecological, paleoecological, archaeological and ethnographic data and literature, as well as the investigator's ethnographic data from a field work done in 2018 in the central-eastern Petén, Guatemala.
	Different botanical and ethnobotanical encyclopedias and archaeological field reports were used, but also the dataset search for paleoecological data in the Neotoma Explorer https://apps.neotomadb.org/explorer/.
	The methodology of the investigator's ethnographic fieldwork consisted of ethnobotanical and ethnoarchitectural surveys, and structured and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with one or two local collaborators at the same time, as well as posterior WhatsApp interviews. Both  qualitative and quantitative data was collected, with regard to the type of preferred trees and the amount of building materials used for a traditional house. The investigator used a list of already known tree species to ask questions about their specific role in house construction.
	Suppl.-11 is derived from line vectors generated by Least Cost Path analysis. The latter was done in R using a script provided by the Bonn Center for Digital Humanities and the r package "leastcostpath" by Joseph Lewis (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/leastcostpath/index.html). For the input data, the location of consumers' households (settlement zones) were used as starting points and the resource zones as target points. The variables are explained in detail in Graf 2026 and were calculated by using specific formula in the QGIS Field Calculator. The mean Control Index (in Table/Sheet 2) is based on the LCP lines from a settlement zone to different resource zones in the same target neighborhood. The Dependency Index in the lower table of Table 2 was calculated in Excel based on the values in the upper table.
	Suppl.-12 is the lexical analysis of emic terms in colonial-era sources such as dictionaries and grammars for Mayan languages. This analysis is based on a corpus-linguistics approach, in which all language sources available were searched for dependency-related terms. The emic terms were morphologically segmented and reconstructions were suggested.

2. Methods for processing the data: 
	See above.

3. Instrument- and/or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: 
	The datasets were partly created with the following software: R (versions 4.0 to 4.4), QGIS (version 3.40.10 LTR), SAGA (version 8.4.0), GRASS GIS (version 8.4.1), and Agisoft Metashape Professional (version 1.7.4).
	All file sets in XLSX or CSV format can be viewed and interpreted in Excel. The CSV versions also can be used in non-propietary software such as LibreOffice or OpenOffice. The CSV files use semicolon <;> as separator.
	The R file can be viewed and interpreted in R. The only package which needs to be added is "purr".

4. People involved in sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: 
	Collection: Paul Graf, Mónica de León Antillón, Omar Schwendener, Marie Botzet, Silvia Elías, Grecia Arenales, Ivannoe Fajardo, Marie Vela, Rebecca Estrada, Kimberly Quiñonez, Hannah Morgan, Melvin Dávila, Andrew Wyatt, Elián Lima Albeño, Julián Bac Pac, Edwin Juárez Sandoval, Francisco Donis Gómez, Marvin Donis Portillo, Wendy Osorio Pineda, Ezequias Chiquin Díaz, Vilda López, Hugo Leonel and Mynor Bac Xitumul, Santiago Chó Coc.
	Processing: Paul Graf, Mónica de León Antillón, Omar Schwendener, Grecia Arenales, Markus Eberl.
	Analysis: Paul Graf, Omar Schwendener, Annkatrin Benz, Grecia Arenales, Markus Eberl, Marie Botzet, Silvia Elías.
	Submission: Paul Graf.

5. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: 
	Suppl.-5 reports the procedures undertaken to improve spatial data.
	Suppl.-7 and 10 were updated before submitting the data.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

E DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR:

File set 1: "01_ModelsMayaPolitics"
	Description: This file set contains a review of geopolitical models in the Southern Maya Lowlands in tabular row-oriented form. Line 1 groups the models into "centralized", "decentralized or weakly centralized", as well as other models that do not fit in either of these categories (columns B to S). The actual models are named in Line 2. Lines 3–9 provide general information (Authors, Political order, Integration, Hierarchy, Sites, Dependency/mechanisms of control) and possible points of criticism for each model. The next set of lines (10–29) contains general literature on all or specific models. The lower part (lines 30–319) constitutes the most informative section of the review, as it places each work that applies the respective model on a timeline. The last line (320) gives the sum of all applications for each model.
	The complete bibliography can be found in the second sheet in the XLSX file or in a separate CSV file.
	NOTE on the XLSX version: Authors in bold type indicate key influencers and founders of the respective models.

File set 2: "02_Geophysics_LatinAmerica"
	Description: The second file set is a column-based table with a collection of geophysical approaches in Mexico, Central, and South America. While it does not represent an exhaustive study of the entire region, it does provide a comprehensive examination of the approaches that have been implemented in the Maya region. The first five columns contain geographical, geological, and contextual information about each study, which highlight the importance of evaluating the local conditions in order to be able to select the most appropriate geophysical method;
	A) Region = City, state, country and/or physiographic province.
	B) Site = Place or region where the geophysical study was conducted.
	C) Geology = Rock and soil types found at the research site.
	D) Description = Special details of the research, including whether the conditions were more urban or rural, or the purpose of the geophysical study.
	E) Year = Year(s) in which the study was conducted.
Columns F through K show the methods used and evaluate the results as to whether they were successful (marked with a + symbol), only partially useful (marked with a + sign in brackets), largely unsuccessful (marked with a - symbol in brackets), without useful results (marked with a - symbol), or whether the result is not clear from the cited work (marked with a ?). Methods that were not applied are marked with 0;
	F) GPR = Ground-Penetrating Radar.
	G) Mag = Magnetometry.
	H) Con = Electrical Conductivity.
	I) Res = Electrical Resistivity.
	J) SP = Self-Potential.
	K) SRT = Seismic Refraction Tomography.
The other columns explain the results;
	L) Features found.
	M) Comments = interesting observations.
	N) Problems.
	O) References.
	P) Additional information.
All abbreviations are explained in the second sheet of the XLSX file or in a separate CSV file. The complete bibliography can be found in the third sheet of the XLSX file or in a separate CSV file.

File 3: "03_R_script_EM38_data_filtering"
	Description: This script was developed by the investigator to filter vector point data. It was intended for processing data, which was originally generated from geophysical surveys at Tzikin Tzakan in 2021 using an EM38-MK2 electromagnetic induction meter and then converted to CSV format. The purpose of this script was to remove outliers from the horizontal matrix of electrical conductivity values. This allowed the creation of conductivity maps, which were used to identify anomalies or potential archaeological features. The script offers different filtering methods, but the project "Asymmetrical Dependency and Resource Control Among the Classic Maya of the Southern Lowlands" ultimately used the Schwellenwert (threshold) method.

File set 4: "04_Excavation_database_2021_2025"
	Description: The fourth file set contains the data on all excavation units conducted in the western periphery of Tzikin Tzakan. It also includes the two shovel test pits from the other case study at Tamarindito, although it did not provide much information.
	Each line represents an excavated layer (nivel) or feature (lote). The columns contain the following information:
	A) Proyecto/temporada = Project name and year (field season).
	B) Sección = Sector within the archaeological site(s).
	C) Arqueolog@ = The archaeologist in charge of the excavation: G.A. = Grecia Arenales; H.M. = Hannah Morgan; P.G. = Paul Graf; M.A. = Mónica de León Antillón; M.B. = Marie Botzet; M.V. = Marie Vela; O.S. = Omar Schwendener; R.E. = Rebecca Estrada; S.E. = Silvia Elías.
	D) Nombre = A name given to the excavation unit, e.g., for specifying the type of excavation (see Graf 2026).
	E) ID = Code of the excavated layer or feature.
	F) Op. = Operation number, which corresponds to a sector or area within the archaeological site. In the doctoral project, the operation corresponds to different neighborhoods in the periphery of Tzikin Tzakan and Tamarindito, but also to different sectors of the site core.
	G) Sub. = Suboperation letter, which corresponds to the subdivision of the operation, e.g., for differentiating between different structures or groups of structures.
	H) U. = Unit number, which refers to the excavation pit in the context of a (sub)operation.
	I) N. = Nivel (layer) number, which refers to the vertical layer of an excavation.
	J) L. = Lote (feature) number, which refers to the vertical or horizontal subdivision of a layer, which were applied when small changes appear within a layer, or a specific feature appears within a layer, e.g., a line of stones within a soil layer.
	K) Longitud = the length of the unit.
	L) Anchura = the width of the unit.
	M) Contexto = Comments and description of the general context of the layer or feature, including its relationship to other features and structures nearby (This information is sometimes already included in Column O).
	N) Interpretación = Interpretation of the layer or feature.
	O) Descripción = Detailed description of the layer's or feature's context, including archaeological materials.
	P) Matriz = Detailed description of the layer's matrix, including color, consistency, texture, and composition.
	Q) Color Munsell = Munsell Soil Chart code.
	R) Datación relativa = Dating of the layer or feature, mostly based on the ceramic analysis by Omar Schwendener (see Suppl.-6a/b). (n.d. = no determinado / not determined).
	S) Cer. Total = Total count of ceramic objects recovered from the layer or feature.
	T) Cer. Cuerpo = Count of body sherds (a piece from the walls of a vessel, lacking the lip, base, or handles).
	U) Cer. Borde = Count of rim sherds (fragments that include the lip, the edge of the opening, of a vessel).
	V) Cer. Base = Count of basal sherds (fragments from the bottom of a vessel).
	W) Ped. Total = Total count of lithic objects (chert, chalcedony or other silica rocks) recovered from the layer or feature.
	X) Ped. Lasca = Count of lithic flakes (intentionally knapped stone fragment with visible platform and bulb).
	Y) Ped. Desecho/shatter = Count of lithic shatter (other fragments residual from lithic production).
	Z) Ped. Núcleo = Count of lithic cores (parent stone or nucleus from which flakes or blades are removed).
	AA) Ped. Herramienta = Count of lithic tools (such as blades, points, scrapers or hammers).
	AB) Calcita = Count of calcite.
	AC) Obs. Navaja = Count of obsidian tool fragments.
	AD) Jute = Count of jute shells (see mollusk analysis by Annkatrin Benz, Suppl.-7).
	AE) Caracolito = Count of other snail shells (see mollusk analysis by Annkatrin Benz, Suppl.-7).
	AF) Concha = Count of mussel shells (see mollusk analysis by Annkatrin Benz, Suppl.-7).
	AG) Hallazgo especial = Special finds, including lithic tools, figurines and incense burner fragments.
	AH) Inicio NO = Initial depth at the northwest corner of a layer or feature.
	AI) Cierre NO = Closing depth at the northwest corner of a layer or feature.
	AJ) Inicio NE = Initial depth at the northeast corner of a layer or feature.
	AK) Cierre NE = Closing depth at the northeast corner of a layer or feature.
	AL) Inicio SO = Initial depth at the southwest corner of a layer or feature.
	AM) Cierre SO = Closing depth at the southwest corner of a layer or feature.
	AN) Inicio SE = Initial depth at the southeast corner of a layer or feature.
	AO) Cierre SE = Closing depth at the southeast corner of a layer or feature.
	AP) Prof.NO = Total depth of a layer or feature in the northwest corner.
	AQ) Prof.NE = Total depth of a layer or feature in the northeast corner.
	AR) Prof.SO = Total depth of a layer or feature in the southwest corner.
	AS) Prof.SE = Total depth of a layer or feature in the southeast corner.

File set 5: "05_RemoteSensingPostprocess"
	Description: This file set documents the calibration of GPS data recorded in the 2021 and 2022 field seasons at Tzikin Tzakan (first sheet of the XLSX file, and separate CSV file) and the 2021 field season at Tamarindito (second sheet of the XLSX file, and separate CSV file). Due to the lack of specific postprocessing data, the evaluation of coordinates and subsequent calibration was based mainly on high resolution satellite images that were used for georeferencing the drone data. This ultimately provided a suitable basis for adjusting all datasets. The latter included the location of geophysical grids, structures and features registered during surface surveys, excavation units and shovel test pits (specified in Column A). The data types calibrated include vector points and lines, but also planum photos that were georeferenced. In addition, information on the GPS date (Column B), whether calibration was needed (Column C), the distance and orientation of the deviation of raw data from calibrated data (Column D), the reference point for calibration (e.g., survey stakes, pits or features visible in the drone photos, Column E), the name of the original GPS files (not included in the dataset, Column F), and further information, including the type or device used for GPS recording (Column G). The evaluation of the Tamarindito GPS data only consists of three columns, specifying the reference structures for calibrating drone images, whether calibration was needed and the deviation of the GPS data.

File set 6: "06a_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2021"
	Description: The sixth file set contains the data on the ceramic analysis of the materials from the field season 2021 in the western periphery of Tzikin Tzakan. It was conducted by Omar Schwendener in 2022 on the basis of photos and field notes.
	The first two columns (A and B) of this table specify the archaeological site and sector.
	Columns C-D indicate operation and suboperation.
	Columns E-H describe the type and number of excavation, whether it be a test pit for examining a feature visible on the ground surface (Unidad), an individual shovel test pit for ground truthing an anomaly known from remote sensing (Individual), a contrasting shovel test pit for complementing the Individual by testing the area outside the anomaly (Contraste) or a series of shovel test pits (Serial).
	Column J gives contextual information on the excavation unit.
	Columns K-S contain information on the surface of ceramic sherds, considering the color and condition of ceramic sherds.
	In Column T any decorations are specified.
	Columns U and V contain information on the past, its color and tempering.
	Column W contains the classification of ceramic sherds according to the Type-Variety system. 	Column X gives the count of sherds for each context.
	Columns Y-AE contain information on the type of ceramic fragments (base, body, neck, rim, pedestal), and Columns AF-AK on the corresponding object type (plate, bowl, pot, jar, figurine, censer, other artifact).
	Column AL contains the chronological assessment in relation to the period (Late Preclassic, Early Classic, Late Classic), with Column L providing the subphase (Initial/Early, Middle, Terminal).
	NOTE: Empty columns were removed.

File set 7: "06b_TZ_CeramicAnalysis2022"
	Description: The other file set of ceramic analysis contains the data for the materials from the field season 2022 in the western periphery of Tzikin Tzakan. It was also conducted by Omar Schwendener during the laboratory phase of the Tzikin Tzakan Archaeological Project. The material was organized with a specific labeling of the bags given in Column B. The other columns are mostly the same attributes as in Suppl.-6a, including operation, suboperation and the numbers of excavation unit, layer and feature.
	Columns I-L give information on the classification based on both Vessel-based (Vajilla) and Type-Variety system.
	Column M provides the weight of the ceramic materials (in grams).
	Column N gives the count of sherds for each context.
	Column O specifies sherds that were poorly conserved and could not be classified.
	Column P specifies if a sherd was selected as representational sample for a ceramic type.
	Columns Q-U contain information on the type of ceramic fragments (base, body, rim, neck, pedestal), and Column V on special objects (censer).
	Column W contains the chronological assessment in relation to the period and subphase.
	NOTE: Empty columns were removed (considering all three operations).

File set 8: "07_TZ_ShellAnalysis_2021-2022"
	Description: The eighth dataset contains the shell analysis. The analysis was kindly carried out remotely and based on images by Annkatrin Benz. The basis for this was provided by pictures that Paul Graf had taken during the 2021 and 2022 field seasons in the western periphery of Tzikin Tzakan. The analysis was conducted on 16.06.2022, and revised on 23.02.2026. The columns contain the following information:
	A) Context = Context of shell finds with the code of the associated layer or feature.
	B) NISP = Number of Identified Specimens.
	C) MNI = Minimum Number of Individuals.
	D) Taxa = The taxa identified.
	E) Habitat = The habitat of the mollusk species.
	F) Comment = Information on the condition of the finds.
	G) Position in photo = Position of the shells in the photos.
	
File set 9: "08_Essential_resources_SML"
	Description: This file set contains the evaluation of essential resources in the Southern Maya Lowlands based on different attributes and was used for Social Network Analysis in Cytoscape. 
	Columns A-C of the table are used to define and assign resources to thematic groups.
	Column D describes the accessibility or limitedness, which is related to the spatial context of the resource, and includes the following values: less localized as the highest degree of accessibility and the lowest degree of limitedness (widespread distribution with frequent resource zones, only requiring human labor); more localized as relatively restricted character (regionally limited abundance, dependent on certain geographic features); and very localized as the lowest degree of accessibility and the highest degree of limitedness (very specific locations or conditions, including dependence on institutions).
	Column E examines the risk in terms of accessibility and refers to the probability that a resource will disappear: high risk means that a resource is particularly vulnerable and may become unusable due to various environmental factors; medium risk means it requires some effort to maintain or obtain the resource, which is especially true in domesticated and social contexts; low risk ultimately refers to resources that are self-regenerating as long as there are no serious environmental changes.
	Columns F-P evaluate the resource zones in which a resources can occur, which are represented as Boolean values (true or false). Ten resource zones are considered, including forest, milpa, domestic context or kitchen garden, storage context, bedrock or parent rock, soil, freshwater bodies, marine coast or seawater, centralized facilities, and additionally in an immaterial context (intangible resources).
	Column Q assesses the regional abundance of a resource, again in terms of accessibility. It contains four categorical values: high abundance represents an extensive availability of the resource within the studied region; medium abundance refers to resources requiring specific landscape features; low abundance corresponds to resources that are very rare or whose zones lie outside the reference region; and dependent abundance refers to domesticated contexts.
	Column R states whether a resource involves long-distance trade (as medium risk factor).
	Columns S and T classifies the necessity of a resource, according to vital and moral necessity. The first aspect represents the intensity of the necessity according to the vital aspect: less vital means that the resource is not always necessary or is considered essential only as an emergency good; more vital means that the resource is relatively essential because there are alternatives for the same category; and very vital means all essential resources without any alternatives (except in times of crisis or extreme change). In the specific case of food, the nutritional analysis provided in Suppl.-9 was taken into account. The field of moral necessity represents the intensity of the necessity according to the moral aspect: A resource is classified as less essential if there is an indirect necessity, i.e., it is required to obtain another moral re-source, but there are also alternatives; more essential resources are direct or in-direct moral resources for which there are alternatives, but which have inherent high moral significance; and very essential resources are of central moral importance, necessary for the existence of humankind and the maintenance of the cosmos, without comparable alternatives.
	Column U describes the purpose of a resource, for which it is essential or indispensable.
	Column V names possible alternatives for a resource, taking into account the importance and detailed characteristics such as nutritional values of different foods.
	Column W mentions other uses of a resource, which is decisive for the versatility or multifunctionality of that resource.

File set 10: "09_Essential_food_SML"
	Description: This file set lists all individual food sources, including plants and animals, which may be considered essential in the diet of the pre-Hispanic inhabitants of the Southern Maya Lowlands (although depending on the regional conditions). The first column gives a list of all species with their common and latin names. The groups the species belong to are indicated by an abbreviation, with C for field crops, Cr for root crops, G for greens, T for trees, P for palms, V for vines or lianas, N for nectar (honey), L for land mammals, B for birds, R for reptiles, F for fish, M for mollusks, fw for freshwater habitat, and sw for saltwater habitat.
	The following columns include all nutrients of interest. The measurement unit is abbreviated (g for gram, mg for miligram, and mcg in microgram). All values given in the table refer to the content in 100 g of the respective resource.
	Column B-T indicate the energy content in kilocalories (Kcal), protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), potassium (K), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), thiamine (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), niacin (Vitamin B3), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), retinol (Vitamin A), pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), cobalamin (Vitamin B12), and folate (Vitamin B9).
	Column U concludes the most important amino acids of each resource considering the mean value for each amino acid.
	Columns V-AD indicate the content of the nine essential amino acids in 100 g protein, including histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
	The bibliography is added in the second table of this file set.

File set 11: "10_Trees_houses_2018"
	Description: This file set contains the results of an evaluation of tree resources used in pre-Hispanic Maya house construction in the central Maya Lowlands, presented in four sheets within the XLSX file as well as in separate CSV files. The tables contained in this dataset were created as part of the investigator's master's thesis in 2018, which focused on the access to roofing materials in the central-eastern Petén during the Classic period. Notwithstanding, the evaluation and data collection encompassed all tree species used in traditional Maya house construction. The tables were developed from an ethnoarchaeological perspective, i.e., ethnographic data was consulted first and supplemented with Western methods of plant description.
	The first table contains a list of all trees with a use in pre-Hispanic Maya house construction:
	Columns A-E list all tree species with taxonomical information, such as the Latin name of the family (A) and the species (B), along with their designation in Spanish (C), Itza' Maya (D) and English (E). In Column B, the first taxon is the accepted name of the tree species, followed by the author who established the taxon, and sometimes the most common synonymous name. Some lines include several taxons because they are apparently represented by the same Itza' term.
	Columns F-H provide anthropological information about the value of the tree species in house construction (F and G) and other uses (H) among the Itza' Maya.
	Columns I-K provide morphological information, including maximum tree height in meters (I), trunk diameter in meters (J)  and leaf properties (K).
	Columns L-O provide ecological information, also taking into account ethnographic information. Thus, Column L gives the vegetation zone as based on the emic view of the Itza' Maya, Column M provides information on the climatic/geographic conditions, Column N gives specific requirements on the soils, and Column O refers to the tree's relationship to other plants.
	Column P contains an assessment of the species' pre-Hispanic presence in Mesoamerica providing archaeological and paleoecological evidence. While the former relied on databases in archaeological literature, the latter is based on a search of datasets in Neotoma Explorer, which were part of the Latin American Pollen Database and the North American Pollen Database (an overview is provided in Table 4 of the XLSX file and the separate CSV file).
	Column Q contains the references for all information on the individual tree species. These include scientific and ethnographic plant encyclopedias as well as the investigator's ethnographic interviews. The corresponding bibliography can be found in Table 3 of the XLSX file and the separate CSV file. The investigator's ethnographic data is provided in Table 2 of the XLSX file and the separate CSV file.
	Column R contains information on the species' value as a material for house construction in other Maya groups, including the bibliographic reference.
	Column S evaluates the occurrence of species in different forest types according to the study by Schulze and Whitacre (1999) in the area of the archaeological site Tikal, Petén, Guatemala. The forest types are listed in order from highest to lowest abundancy of the respective tree species. The formatting of the forest type labels indicates the species' abundance based on the mean number of individuals per 0.041 ha plot for adult trees ≥ 7.5 cm dbh (diameter at breast height), and number per 1.7 x 20 m belt transect for juveniles. Accordingly, species with a frequency of at least 10.00 are marked in bold and underlined, species with a mean value between 1.00 and 9.99 are marked in bold, and species with a frequency between 0.10 and 0.99 are marked without formatting. The n value gives the total number of individuals for each adult and juvenile species.
	Column T contains further observations.
	The second table summarizes the ethnoarchitectural data collected in 2018, with a special focus on palm thatch as roofing material, but also including other trees used in traditional Maya house construction. Ethnographic interviews were conducted in four local communities (Line 1), including La Máquina inhabited by people of "mixed" identity, the Mopan village of San Luis, and the Itza' villages of San José and San Miguel. In total ten interviews were conducted (Line 2). This is supplemented with observations of the author (Column B) and data from Caballero 1994 (Column M). Line 3 evaluates the hypothesis whether access to palm leaves used as roofing material was restricted nowadays. Lines 4-9 concern specifically the "guano" palm associated with the Sabal genus, including growth conditions, taxonomical issues, the harvest of palm leaves, the durability of roofs thatched with guano leaves, the ideal conditions of a guano-thatched roof, and the amount of leaves required for covering a roof. Lines 10-12 concern the other main palm used for roofing, the "corozo" palm (also called manaca), in terms of leaf harvest, durability of thatch and the amount of leaves required for a corozo roof. Lines 13-15 give information on the houses and roofs under study. Lines 16-30 give the most preferred tree species used for each part of the traditional Maya house.
	The remaining tables contain the bibliography and datasets used.

File set 12: "11_TZ_LCP_Resources_Dependency"
	Description: This file set contains the evaluation of dependency relationships among the neighborhoods of western Tzikin Tzakan, presented in two sheets within the XLSX file as well as in separate CSV files. It is based on the identification of missing resources and their acquisition from other neighborhoods. The routes to these neighborhoods were analyzed through least cost paths (LCPs) from settlement zones (Barrio consumidor) to resource zones (Barrio recurso). This analysis was used for calculating a control index and a dependency index based on specific formulas (see Graf 2026).
	The rows of the first table represent the LCPs with their various variables. The columns contain the following information:
	A) Fid = Feature id.
	B) Resource type = Type of resource in Spanish.
	C) Length = Length of the LCP (in meters).
	D) Settlement zone = Location of consumers.
	E) Resource zone = Location from where the resource is acquired.
	F) Length_connecting_sum = Total length (in meters) of the LCP's sections that cross connecting infrastructure (referred to in Graf 2026 as C = physical channeling).
	G) Vol_restricting_sum = Total volume (in cubic meters) of barriers crossed by the LCP (referred to in Graf 2026 as B = physical restriction).
	H) Pf = Path factor, which is calculated by dividing the combined length of infrastructural features by the total length of the LCP.
	I) RM = Resource mobility of a neighborhood in relation to the respective resource obtained from another neighborhood.
	J) RS = Resource shortage, as the count of all resource groups that were locally unavailable.
	K) RA = Resource autonomy, calculated by dividing the RM by the RS.
	L) Length_surveillance_sum = The total length (in meters) of the LCP's sections that cross surveillance zones (referred to in Graf 2026 by the letter S).
	M) CI = Control Index.
	N) Observ = Additional observations.
	NOTE on the XLSX version: Colors indicate the degree of necessity and accessibility of the (LCPs to) resource zones; dark red indicates high necessity, light red indicates centralized resource zones, yellow indicates low necessity because there are other sources nearby, gold indicates alternative resource zones, gray indicates less important resource zones, green indicates resource zones that are under the control of likely affiliated neighborhoods.
	As for the second table, it contains two cross-tables that uses the CI to determine the Dependency Index (DI). The upper cross-table is about the mean Control Index. It provides the CIs of the neighborhoods listed in the first column (X axis) in relation to the other neighborhoods given in the following columns (Y axis).
	NOTE on the upper table in the XLSX version: Colors indicate the degree of necessity and accessibility of essential resources; dark red indicates high necessity, light red indicates centralized resource zones, yellow indicates low necessity because there are other sources nearby, gold indicates alternative resource zones, gray indicates less important resource zones, green indicates resource zones that are under the control of likely affiliated neighborhoods.
	The lower cross-table provides the DI in the same manner. Negative values indicate that Neighborhood A is asymmetrically dependent on Neighborhood B.
	NOTE on the lower table in the XLSX version: Colors indicate the type of resource-based relationship; dark red indicates a strong asymmetrical dependency, light red indicates a weak asymmetrical dependency (interdependency with a power imbalance), blue indicates the power-holding entity in a weak asymmetrical relationship, gold indicates that there is an interdependency but alternatives are available, yellow indicates that alternatives are available, green indicates alliance.

File set 13: "12a_Lexic_Yucatec_Chol"
	Description: File sets 13 through 15 contain the complete analysis of emic terms in Mayan languages related to dependency relationships and dependent actors. This analysis is based on colonial-era dictionaries and grammars. The first of these file sets includes the analysis for Yucatec Maya and Ch'ol.
	The first table of File set 13 contains the Yucatec Maya emic terms. The columns contain the following information:
	A) Spanish translation of the term according to the colonial dictionaries.
	B) Prefix of the emic term as written in the primary source.
	C) Emic term as written in the primary source (original or edited).
	D) Modern reconstruction of the emic term.
	E) Interpretation of the emic term.
	F) Comment on the emic term with additional information.
	G) Sources such as dictionaries and other literature.
	H) Conclusion and final comments.
	I) Hypothesis and synthesis.
	The second table of file set contains the Ch'ol emic terms. The columns contain the following information:
	A) Spanish translation of the term according to the colonial dictionaries.
	B) Prefix of the emic term as written in the primary source.
	C) Emic term as written in the primary source (original or edited).
	D) Interpretation of the emic term.
	E) Comment on the emic term with additional information.
	F) Sources such as dictionaries and other literature.
	G) Observations.
	The third table of the file set contains general observations.
	The fourth table contains the bibliography.

File set 14: "12b_Lexic_Kichean"
	Description: The second file set for the analysis of emic terms in Mayan languages corresponds to the K'ichean language branch - specifically, K'iche' and Kaqchikel.
	The first table of File set 14 contains the evaluation of emic terms, including the following columns:
	A) Spanish translation of the term according to the colonial dictionaries.
	B) Prefix of the emic term as written in the primary source.
	C) Emic term as written in the primary source (original or edited).
	D) Modern reconstruction of the emic term.
	E) Interpretation of the emic term.
	F) Comment on the emic term with additional information.
	G) Sources such as dictionaries and other literature.
	H) Conclusion and final comments.
	The second table of the file set contains general observations.
	The third table contains the bibliography.

File set 15: "12c_Lexic_Tzeltalan"
	Description: The third file for the analysis of emic terms in Mayan languages corresponds to the Tzeltalan language branch, including Tseltal, Tseldal and Tzotzil. The columns contain the following information:
	A) Spanish translation of the term according to the colonial dictionaries.
	B) Emic term as written in the primary source (original or edited).
	C) Modern reconstruction of the emic term.
	D) Mayan language.
	E) Comment on the emic term with additional information.
	F) Sources such as dictionaries and other literature.
	G) Conclusion.
	The second table contains the bibliography.

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