The Maya Preclassic Period

The Maya Preclassic period is divided into three time periods: the Early Preclassic, the Middle Preclassic, and the Late Preclassic period. The Preclassic Period of Maya history begins where the first settlements have evidence of crop cultivation. This period began from around 2000 BC to 2600 BC and lasted until around 200 AD to 250AD.
Most Maya groups had already transitioned out of the archaic period and were already becoming distinguishably Preclassic Maya. Their cultural practices which were now unique to their people and they had built agricultural based settlements.
The earliest Maya came into the tropical lowland areas around modern day Belize as farmers before the Preclassic period over 4,000 years ago. These ancient Maya started

building their storied cities in MesoAmerica as early as 1000 BC.[276]
The Early Preclassic Period marks the beginnings of agriculture. These are the settled groups that slowly grew into settlements that improved upon their knowledge of growing foods. Their settlements grew in size because of reliable agricultural methods that were able to provide sustenance for their growing populations.
Some sample varieties of maize cultivated by the Maya.[245]

Knowledge of maize use and cultivation was passed on from one group to another throughout the Southwestern portion of North America. This agricultural knowledge was carried into Mesoamerica by migrating farmers whom brought their learned farming methods with them. The knowledge was gradually shared through interaction between other groups. [245]
There are differences in cultivation techniques used by different groups and even different words used for maize. These differences in cultivation methods and terminology tell us that their methods developed after these groups had already settled into early organized societies.. Their maize culture differed from that of other groups across the Americas.
The time it took some Mesoamerican groups to transition into an agricultural culture stretched over a period of nearly two thousand years. The abundance of local foods that was readily available made cultivating and general agriculture was adopted slowly. Most of their dietary proteins were obtained primarily from meat obtained from local game.