Estimation of ancient Maya population: Basic human nutritional needs for sustenance

- Present means of estimating ancient Maya population lacks independent verification.
- Current approach is based on counts of household mounds and assumed occupancy.
- Reconstruction of ancient Maya diet offers a new approach of population estimate.
- Premise of model diet is based on human nutritional needs and local food resources.
- Reconstructed whole diet could then be used to estimate land base for sustenance.