Editing Tamale (section)

== Origin ==
Tamales originated in [[Mesoamerica]] as early as 8000 to 5000 BC.<ref name=":0"/>

The preparation of tamales is likely to have spread from the indigenous cultures in [[Mesoamerica]] to the rest of the Americas. According to archaeologists [[Karl Taube]], [[William Saturno]], and [[David Stuart (Mayanist)|David Stuart]], tamales may date from around 100 AD. They found pictorial references in the [[San Bartolo (Maya site)|Mural of San Bartolo]], in Petén, Guatemala.<ref>William A. Saturno, Karl A. Taube and David Stuart 2005 The Murals of San Bartolo, El Peten, Guatemala, Part 1: The North Wall. Ancient America, Number 7. Center for Ancient American Studies, Barnardsville, NC.</ref>

The [[Aztec]] and [[Maya civilization|Maya]] civilizations, as well as the [[Olmec]] and [[Toltec]] before them, used tamales as easily portable food for hunting trips, traveling large distances, and nourishing their armies.<ref name=":0" /> Tamales were also considered sacred, as they were seen as the food of the gods.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coen |first=Kristina |title=Iconic Cuisine: Tamales of the Maya |url=https://historicalmx.org/items/show/154 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=HistoricalMX |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604161951/https://historicalmx.org/items/show/154 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Aztec, Maya, Olmecs, and Toltecs as peoples considered corn as a central part of their cultural identity, so tamales played a large part in their rituals and festivals.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tamales, comadres and the meaning of civilization : secrets, recipes, history, anecdotes, and a lot of fun|date=2011|publisher=Wings Press|last1=Clark|first1=Ellen Riojas|last2=Tafolla|first2=Carmen|isbn=9781609401344|location=San Antonio, TX|oclc=714645014}}</ref>