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Drought and water management in ancient Maya society.

Authors :
Bhattacharya, Tripti
Krause, Samantha
Penny, Dan
Wahl, David
Source :
Progress in Physical Geography. Apr2023, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p189-204. 16p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Paleoclimate research in the Maya region of Mesoamerica provides compelling evidence of drought during key periods of cultural transition in Maya society. These include the transition from the Preclassic to the Classic, and from Classic to the Postclassic. Previous research emphasized a causal relationship between drought and cultural change, or so-called "collapse" in the Maya region. Recent advances in the range and precision of climate-sensitive proxies and the development of new archives have enabled quantitative reconstructions of past hydroclimate, as well as providing evidence of high impact, short-duration events, such as tropical cyclones. Simultaneously, archaeological research has unearthed widespread evidence of technologies used by the Maya to exert control over water resources in urban, rural, and agricultural settings. Evidence suggests that many of these water features were in use for multiple generations, possibly centuries, and many were constructed during the Terminal Preclassic and Terminal Classic periods. We suggest that, given the availability of new archaeological and paleoclimate records, these data can be combined to identify the full complexity of Maya adaptation to hydroclimate variability to emphasize adaptation and resilience to both water scarcity and over-abundance (e.g., flooding). Such syntheses, which can offer lessons for present-day efforts to grapple with regional climate change, will benefit from additional studies in data-poor zones of the Maya region, as well as public archiving of paleoclimate and archaeological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03091333
Volume :
47
Issue :
2
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Progress in Physical Geography
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
162923255
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/03091333221129784