Activities of the Maya 2,000 years ago in Central America contributed to the decline of their environment. New research finds evidence of their influence on today’s environmental conditions, as well.
It’s the first study to show the full extent of the “Mayacene” as a microcosm of the early Anthropocene—a period when human activity began greatly affecting environmental conditions.
“Most popular sources talk about the Anthropocene and human impacts on climate since the industrial revolution, but we are looking at a deeper history,” says lead author Tim Beach, professor of geography and the environment at the University of Texas at Austin. “Though it has no doubt accelerated in the last century, humans’ impact on the environment has been going on a lot longer.”
By looking at Maya impacts on climate, vegetation, hydrology, and lithosphere from 3,000 to 1,000 years ago, researchers propose that the Maya’s advanced urban and rural infrastructure altered ecosystems within globally important tropical forests.
Six ‘Spikes’
The researchers identified six stratigraphic markers—or “golden spikes”—that indicate a time of large-scale change, including: “Maya clay” rocks; unique soil sequences; carbon isotope ratios; widespread chemical enrichment; building remains and landscape modifications; and signs of Maya-induced climate change.
“These spikes give us insight into how and why Mayas interacted with their environment, as well as the scope of their activity,” says coauthor Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, chair of the department of geography and the environment.
Maya clay and soil sequences indicated erosion, human land-use changes, and periods of instability. Soil profiles near wetlands revealed heightened carbon isotope ratios due to agriculture and corn production; and researchers note a three- to fourfold increase in phosphorus throughout Maya-age sediments.
