63-4 Maya Water Resource Management in The Three Rivers Region: A Study of Resilience and Environmental Adaptation.

Session: Geoarchaeology of Sites to Landscapes: Current Research on Long-Term Water and Soil Management and Maladaptation (Posters)

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Abstract:

    The ancient Maya of the Three Rivers Region in northwest Belize thrived for centuries in the challenging tropical landscapes of the Central Lowlands. Where difficult soil conditions, limited surface waters, and recurring droughts posed persistent threats to agricultural and societal stability. While prolonged droughts have been cited as key contributors to societal disruptions during the Late Preclassic (c. 400 BCE–250 CE) and Terminal Classic (c. 800–900 CE) periods, evidence of extensive wetland cultivation, canal systems, and reservoir infrastructure suggests that the Maya also developed innovative strategies for water management and agricultural intensification. This poster presents new preliminary data of an understudied section of a Late Classic to Late Postclassic (600AD- 1519CE) reservoir on the fringes of the Birds of Paradise wetland field system within the lower Rio Bravo watershed. This ongoing research used excavations and push cores to expose the stratigraphy of the embankment surrounding this reservoir. Future analyses will include radiocarbon dating to understand the timing of its construction, and X-ray fluorescence and particle size analysis to characterize the sedimentary sequence. Paleoenvironmental data and archaeological evidence based on settlement patterns will be used to assess the relationship between climate stress, political change, and adaptive land-use practices as this study explores how environmental pressures led to adaptive measures that contributed to the Mayas resilience. Our overarching goal here is to better understand this reservoir’s timeline of construction and use. These findings will contribute to ongoing conversations about the causes of societal change in ancient Mesoamerica and how the Maya navigated water scarcity and abundance in a complex social and environmental landscape, as well as provide valuable insight into how modern societies might respond to resource stress, political instability, and climate-induced challenges.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10745

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