Maize and ancient Maya droughts
Abstract The ancient Maya culture of Mesoamerica shaped landscapes for centuries, in an area where maize (Zea mays) cultivation is considered a fundamental crop in the diet of present and ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Pollen records from sites with different environmental and climatic conditions of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26761-3 |
| _version_ | 1797977504100646912 |
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| author | Gerald A. Islebe Nuria Torrescano-Valle Mirna Valdez-Hernández Alicia Carrillo-Bastos Alejandro A. Aragón-Moreno |
| author_facet | Gerald A. Islebe Nuria Torrescano-Valle Mirna Valdez-Hernández Alicia Carrillo-Bastos Alejandro A. Aragón-Moreno |
| author_sort | Gerald A. Islebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The ancient Maya culture of Mesoamerica shaped landscapes for centuries, in an area where maize (Zea mays) cultivation is considered a fundamental crop in the diet of present and ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Pollen records from sites with different environmental and climatic conditions of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) and Peten (Guatemala) evidence a clear relationship between increased maize pollen and periods of reduced precipitation caused by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) while moist periods are characterized by low maize pollen presence. ENSO conditions were not evenly distributed across the Yucatán Peninsula, and regional droughts vary according to regional climate and geographical conditions. Our results indicate a strong relationship of increased maize and tropical forest decrease with dry periods, while the Late Preclassic Humid Period (ca. 500–200 BCE) is characterized by the absence of maize pollen. The dry Late Preclassic (300 BCE-250 CE) was a key period for increased maize production, suggesting a new conceptualization of maize. Maize changed from a basic diet crop to a pragmatic product to face adverse environmental conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:07:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9098a2008be43fb8297148039424cec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:07:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9098a2008be43fb8297148039424cec2022-12-25T12:14:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-0112111110.1038/s41598-022-26761-3Maize and ancient Maya droughtsGerald A. Islebe0Nuria Torrescano-Valle1Mirna Valdez-Hernández2Alicia Carrillo-Bastos3Alejandro A. Aragón-Moreno4El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad ChetumalEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad ChetumalEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad ChetumalTecnológico Nacional de México / IT de ChetumalEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad ChetumalAbstract The ancient Maya culture of Mesoamerica shaped landscapes for centuries, in an area where maize (Zea mays) cultivation is considered a fundamental crop in the diet of present and ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Pollen records from sites with different environmental and climatic conditions of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) and Peten (Guatemala) evidence a clear relationship between increased maize pollen and periods of reduced precipitation caused by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) while moist periods are characterized by low maize pollen presence. ENSO conditions were not evenly distributed across the Yucatán Peninsula, and regional droughts vary according to regional climate and geographical conditions. Our results indicate a strong relationship of increased maize and tropical forest decrease with dry periods, while the Late Preclassic Humid Period (ca. 500–200 BCE) is characterized by the absence of maize pollen. The dry Late Preclassic (300 BCE-250 CE) was a key period for increased maize production, suggesting a new conceptualization of maize. Maize changed from a basic diet crop to a pragmatic product to face adverse environmental conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26761-3 |
| spellingShingle | Gerald A. Islebe Nuria Torrescano-Valle Mirna Valdez-Hernández Alicia Carrillo-Bastos Alejandro A. Aragón-Moreno Maize and ancient Maya droughts Scientific Reports |
| title | Maize and ancient Maya droughts |
| title_full | Maize and ancient Maya droughts |
| title_fullStr | Maize and ancient Maya droughts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maize and ancient Maya droughts |
| title_short | Maize and ancient Maya droughts |
| title_sort | maize and ancient maya droughts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26761-3 |
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