The Great Tikal Earthwork Revisited

Webster, David; Murtha, Timothy; Straight, Kirk Damon; Silverstein, Jay; Martinez, Horacia; Terry, Richard E.; Burnett, Richard L.

doi:10.1179/009346907791071700

Cited by 72 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Traditional survey efforts have resulted in size estimates for many of these sites that range from 50 to 200 sq km (Chase and Chase, 2003a;Webster et al, 2007). However, in spite of years of research, the full documentation of settlement and landscape modification has generally not been possible.…”

Section: Scale Of Ancient Maya Landscapesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Airborne LiDAR, archaeology, and the ancient Maya landscape at Caracol, Belize

Chase

Weishampel

et al. 2011

Journal of Archaeological Science

409

257

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Section: Scale Of Ancient Maya Landscapesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Airborne LiDAR, archaeology, and the ancient Maya landscape at Caracol, Belize

Chase

Weishampel

et al. 2011

Journal of Archaeological Science

409

257

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“…The soil samples were collected by horizon from pedons in the summit, shoulder, backslope, footslope and toeslope of the uplands, and seasonal bajos of lowland depressions during the réévaluation of the Tikal earthworks (Webster et al, 2007b). Lowland soils were collected from Bajo Antonio north of the site center and from Bajo El Grande in the northwest vicinity of the earthworks (Fig.…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6) (Silverstein et al, 2009;Webster et al, 2007b). The ô'^C data of soil horizons in and around the aguada are shown in Fig.…”

Section: Upland Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 and 6) (Webster et al, 2007b). Five soils were collected from the area around the aguada, and soil 3 was taken from the center of the aguada.…”

Section: Upland Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was thought that the earthworks enclosed and were used to defend at least a portion of Tikal's agricultural hinterland. Sustainability at Tikal has puzzled researchers because evidence of terraces and other agricultural intensification features such as drainage ditches or raised fields has not been identified (Pope and Dahlin, 1989;Puleston, 1973Puleston, , 1978Webster et al, 2007aWebster et al, , 2007b.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

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Upland and Lowland Soil Resources of the Ancient Maya at Tikal, Guatemala

Burnett

Terry

Sweetwood

et al. 2012

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Intelligence and CIS Se( tion )(iiiil POVV/'MIA Accounting Command Hickam AFB. HI 9í)í\".->553o Li SA Debate over agricultural methods and productivity during the Preclassic and Classic Maya period (1000 BCE to 900 CE) focuses on the agronomic utility of both upland and lowland soil resources of the karst topography characteristic of northern Guatemala and much of the Yucatan peninsula. In settings where direct evidence of agriculture is sparse, stable carbon (C) isotope evidence from soil organic matter (SOM) provides information on past vegetation changes related to ancient maize agriculture. Areas of ancient sustained maize cultivation can be identified in an ecosystem dominated by Cj forest vegetation because of the unique C4 photosynthetic pathway of maize. The decomposition of plant materials with divergent photosynthetic mechanisms (C3 versus C4) results in SOM with correspondingly distinct stable C isotope ratios (ô^^C). Such differences are preserved and detectable within the refractory humin fraction of the SOM. This study analyzes the physical and chemical soil properties including stable C isotopes of soils collected from upland and lowland locations near Tikal, Guatemala. Toeslope soils contained strong isotopic evidence of C4 vegetation likely the result of ancient maize agriculture, while the evidence from shallow soils of the summit and backslopes was less conclusive. In both upland and lowland contexts, however, the stronger evidence of ancient vegetation shifts associated with maize agriculture was found in the deeper finetextured soils in the footslopes and toeslopes. Examination of soils on toeslopes revealed evidence of deposition from erosional processes upslope that may have been related to the spread of agriculture to less productive soils over time.Abbreviations: COLE, coefficient of linear extensibility; DEM, digital elevation model; SOM, soil organic matter.

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Paleoecology and Geoarchaeology at El Palmar and the El Zotz Region, Guatemala

et al. 2016

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A new paleoecology record from the El Palmar Cival adds to the emerging geoarchaeological record of El Zotz, Guatemala. El Palmar's 3 m stratigraphic record began in the Archaic period before 1500 B.C. at or just before initial Maya impacts. From the lowest level, Late Archaic organic deposition, with evidence for diverse tropical forest and a steady water table, transitioned to Early Preclassic clay deposition, decreased forest taxa, three known food taxa, and more economic species. Clay deposition continued through the Preclassic, with occasional organic and high charcoal deposition, increasing maize, and other possible economic pollen. Classic El Palmar saw a new land use type with continued disturbance evidence but diverse and greater forest cover. Human impacts continued, leaving high amounts of disturbance taxa, charcoal, and the highest maize pollen level, concomitant with lower deposition rates, δ13C evidence of increased, diverse tropical forest taxa and organic sediments. El Zotz Aguada's Early Classic to Postclassic sediment record overlaps this, with maize and squash pollen evidence changing to Classic period copal tree pollen dominance. Both records indicate the maximum quantity of C4 taxa derived organic matter was about 40%, leaving at least half from C3 taxa such as tropical forest species.

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The Great Tikal Earthwork Revisited

Cited by 72 publications

References 14 publications

Airborne LiDAR, archaeology, and the ancient Maya landscape at Caracol, Belize

Airborne LiDAR, archaeology, and the ancient Maya landscape at Caracol, Belize

Upland and Lowland Soil Resources of the Ancient Maya at Tikal, Guatemala

Paleoecology and Geoarchaeology at El Palmar and the El Zotz Region, Guatemala

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