After Killing a Pig

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After Killing a Pig
the tongue is removed. it will likely be cooked with the chicharrone.

In a Maya village in Belize, a pig is commonly killed to celebrate a special event during which many people are expected to be fed. Days when men are working together to build a house or plant corn, weddings and holidays are often occasions to kill a pig. Every part of the pig, with the occasional exception of the very tip of the snout, is eaten. Without refrigeration, processing the pig swiftly and cooking the different meals with precise care is critical to everyone’s health. One could argue that the social aspects of the work needed to accomplish this tremendous task are important to health as well. It was a privilege to be part of this extensive process many times. Here are some highlights:

after cutting the throat and cleaning the skin with boiling water. dogs watch, anticipating scraps
the head is cleaned and removed.
the cleaned skin is removed in strips to be cut for the chicharrone- the 1st meal. feet and tail are also removed and eaten.
the lungs and liver are removed. they will be part of the 2nd meal prepared from the pig.
the tongue is removed. it will likely be cooked with the chicharrone.
the head. it will likely be boiled and the meat and jelly used for the 4th meal- the pig head tamales.
washing “the guts” in the river is a critical step in the process.
Sonja holds up the stomach. it’s contents will be emptied and it will be thoroughly cleaned before becoming part of the 2nd meal.
cleaning the intestines. each inch of intestine is washed, inside and out before the guts are ready for cooking.

Kristina Baines is our resident cool anthropologist. She’s been formally trained in applied, sociocultural, ecological and medical anthropology at Florida Atlantic University (BA, MA), the University of Oxford (MSc) and the University of South Florida (PhD). She has a strong interest in corn, how what we do in our environment makes us well, and using innovative methods to make anthropology relevant and accessible to a wide audience. You can find out more about how these interests translate into projects and pursuits by perusing the rest of our site, or you can contact her directly at kristina@coolanthropology.com

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