3 Water and Landscape: Ancient Maya Settlement Decisions

Lucero, Lisa J.; Fedick, Scott L.; Dunning, Nicholas P.; Lentz, David L.; Scarborough, Vernon L.

doi:10.1111/apaa.12027

Cited by 26 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…is marked by the first appearance of state level settlements and an increased reliance on domesticated crops, particularly Zea mays (Neff et al, 2006). Settlements and agriculture were concentrated around water bodies, such as Cenotes, which provided reliable access to fresh water for sustenance and agriculture (Lucero et al, 2014). Although pollen records have been used to document the spread of maize agriculture in the Maya Area, most of these records are from the lowlands (Figure 1).…”

Section: Anthropogenic Impacts and Agrarian Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Legacy of Pre–Columbian Fire on the Pine–Oak Forests of Upland Guatemala

Harvey

Nogué

Stansell

et al. 2019

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Mountain tropical forests of the Southern Maya Area (Pacific Chiapas and Guatemala, El Salvador, and Northern Honduras) predominantly comprise pine and oak formations, which form intricate mosaics and complex successional interactions following large-scale fire. These forests have been transformed by the peoples of the Maya civilization through practices of horticulture, agriculture, and architectural developments over thousands of years. Anthropogenic impacts and the extent of early human interaction with these upland forests is currently poorly understood. In this study we identify: (i) the natural baseline vegetation of the region; (ii) when human impact and agrarian practices began in the Maya uplands; and (iii) what impacts the Maya had on forest structure, composition, and successional regeneration. Past vegetation, anthropogenic use of fire, and faunal abundance were reconstructed using proxy analysis of fossil pollen, macroscopic charcoal, microscopic charcoal, and dung fungal spores (Sporormiella). Three phases of forest succession were identified from 4000B.C.E. to 1522CE that broadly overlap with the well-defined archaeological periods of (i) the Archaic (10,000-2000B.C.E.); (ii) Pre-Classic (2000B.C.E.−100C.E.); (iii) Terminal Pre-Classic (100-250C.E.); (iv) Classic (250-950C.E.); and (v) Post-Classic (950-1522C.E.). These results also include the earliest evidence for agriculture within the Southern Maya Area through presence of peppers (Capsicum) from 3850B.C.E. and the rise of maize cultivation (Zea mays) from 970B.C.E. Persistent high intensity burning driven by agricultural practices and lime production during the Late-Pre-Classic (400-100B.C.E.) to Classic Period resulted in a compositional change of forest structure c.150B.C.E. from oak (Quercus) dominated forests to pine (Pinus) dominated forests. The legacy of Pre-Columbian anthropogenically driven fire in these mountain tropical forests demonstrates the resilience and thresholds for fire driven succession. These findings are particularly relevant for addressing current land use and management strategies involving agriculture, fire, and forest management in the mountain tropical forests of the Southern Maya Area.

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Section: Anthropogenic Impacts and Agrarian Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Legacy of Pre–Columbian Fire on the Pine–Oak Forests of Upland Guatemala

Harvey

Nogué

Stansell

et al. 2019

Front. For. Glob. Change

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show abstract

“…For example, in a study of over 300 botanical specimens collected from areas with Maya sites in central Belize, a Mopan Maya foremen was able to identify approximately 95% of the specimens, most of which have uses today (e.g., spices, fruit, nuts, medicinal, construction materials, etc.) (Lindsay, 2011;Lucero et al, 2014). This knowledge reflects thousands of years of engaging responsibly with the living forest.…”

Section: The Maya Cosmocentric Worldview and Resource Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconceptualizing Urbanism: Insights From Maya Cosmology

Lucero

Cruz

2020

Front. Sustain. Cities

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Sustainable practices in the present are typically designed to mitigate immediate concerns over decadal timespans. In the face of exponential population growth, overuse of resources, and global climate change, this time span is inadequate; longer, more resilient and sustainable options need to be implemented. Here, we tackle the intersection of human behavior and the urban environment by taking a holistic approach-that is, a non-anthropocentric approach critical to ensure the longevity, or even survival, of the planet. We thus approach urbanism as we would any ecosystem, with the broad understanding that the urban, the rural, humans, and non-humans are all interdependent. One cannot understand cities without an understanding of the surrounding rural or non-center areas, thus making critical an appreciation of urban-rural interdependence (URI). The holistic model is based on insights from the ancient Maya of Central America-a tropical society where farmers practiced widespread, sustainable agriculture for 4,000 years without denuding the landscape. The Classic Maya accomplished this feat in large part due to their sustainable URI and cosmocentric worldview (CWV)-that is, a cosmology of conservation, or merged existence, where people, animals, plants, rivers, stones, clouds, etc., each played a role in maintaining the world. Their CWV was also expressed in urban planning through manifestations of traditional knowledge, multi-purpose designs, and local resource networks. Insights from the Maya indicate that diversity is fundamental-across all scales; diverse strategies are flexible, spread risk, and are resilient in the face of change. As such, we present past lessons from Maya kings and farmers who built cities with reservoirs, causeways, monumental constructions and other urban features that integrated the built into the existing environment, ultimately resulting in green cities interspersed with farmsteads and managed biodiverse forests. In brief, our holistic model suggests possibilities for the re-integration of nature and culture, with the goal of a resilient URI.

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“…Reservoirs, dams, channels, sluices, and filtration systems can be seen at many Classic Period sites (Scarborough 2003). Importantly, during the dry season, this system allowed for water to continuously be diverted into agricultural fields and holding ponds, which could be used for other economic purposes such as fishing, ceramic production, and architecture construction (Lucero et al 2014). In order to keep some of this water potable and free of diseases, they would add water lilies as well as other marine organisms to purify water through the removal of excess phosphorus and nitrogen (Conrad 1905).…”

Section: Ancient Maya Water Management Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction to Issue Fourteen

2019

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3 Water and Landscape: Ancient Maya Settlement Decisions

Cited by 26 publications

References 58 publications

The Legacy of Pre–Columbian Fire on the Pine–Oak Forests of Upland Guatemala

The Legacy of Pre–Columbian Fire on the Pine–Oak Forests of Upland Guatemala

Reconceptualizing Urbanism: Insights From Maya Cosmology

Introduction to Issue Fourteen

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