The Proto-Maya people likely inhabited the Yucatan region of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras around 3500 BCE. It’s reasonable to assume they were also hunter-gatherers, taking advantage of the area’s diverse wildlife and plant resources. They may have had a more settled lifestyle, with early evidence of ceramics and permanent settlements. The Proto-Maya people likely developed a complex societal structure, with early forms of governance and spiritual practices. This would eventually give rise to the Maya civilization, which flourished from 2000 BCE to 1500 CE.
