Cuisine and Feasting in the Copán and Lower Ulúa Valleys in Honduras

Archaeological research reveals that feasting played a crucial role in social cohesion during the Late to Terminal Classic period (7th–11th centuries CE) among Maya societies in Honduras. While daily meals primarily involved local and imported ingredients shared within households, elaborate feasts transformed eating into structured social events, bringing together larger groups including relatives, neighbors, and strangers. The study examines how food preparation, service, and consumption were organized in the Copán valley (mountainous region) and the Lower Ulúa valley (flood plain), highlighting the dual function of cuisine as both sustenance and a tool for social integration.

Hendon, J. A. (2020). 8. Cuisine and Feasting in the Copán and Lower Ulúa Valleys in Honduras. Her Cup for Sweet Cacao, 219–242. https://doi.org/10.7560/321645-009