Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the n... more Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the nature of these forest economies and their long-term impact on the landscape are still vigorously debated. We address this issue through charcoal analysis at the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Guatemala), systematically analyzing the use of the breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) trees for domestic firewood over eight centuries. These two species are among the most economically and ecologically valuable for modern Maya people, and have been at the core of the debate concerning ancient Maya subsistence economy. We carry out an experimental anthracological study and discuss the implications of its results from a diachronic and taphonomic perspective for the ancient Maya site of Naachtun. We assume that sapodilla wood was intensively exploited as a primary source of fuel throughout the site's occupation history, and that its importance in the fuel economy until the city's abandonment was the product of careful management practices. Our results also indicate that breadnut wood use may have been much more significant than generally perceived in the charcoal records of Maya Lowland sites. An increase in breadnut wood use during the Late Classic, which corresponds to the demographic apogee of Naachtun, is evidence that this tree was of sufficient economic and/or ecological importance to be maintained despite the growing population pressure on the local forest.
Ancient Maya sylviculture of breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum Sw.) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (... more Ancient Maya sylviculture of breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum Sw.) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen) at Naachtun (Guatemala): A reconstruction based on charcoal analysis a b s t r a c t Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the nature of these forest economies and their long-term impact on the landscape are still vigorously debated. We address this issue through charcoal analysis at the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Guatemala), systematically analyzing the use of the breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) trees for domestic firewood over eight centuries. These two species are among the most economically and ecologically valuable for modern Maya people, and have been at the core of the debate concerning ancient Maya subsistence economy. We carry out an experimental anthracological study and discuss the implications of its results from a diachronic and taphonomic perspective for the ancient Maya site of Naachtun. We assume that sapodilla wood was intensively exploited as a primary source of fuel throughout the site's occupation history, and that its importance in the fuel economy until the city's abandonment was the product of careful management practices. Our results also indicate that breadnut wood use may have been much more significant than generally perceived in the charcoal records of Maya Lowland sites. An increase in breadnut wood use during the Late Classic, which corresponds to the demographic apogee of Naachtun, is evidence that this tree was of sufficient economic and/or ecological importance to be maintained despite the growing population pressure on the local forest.
Observation of archaeological charcoal records from Maya sites, and in particular, the Classic si... more Observation of archaeological charcoal records from Maya sites, and in particular, the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Peten, Guatemala), indicates that certain woody taxa tend to occur in proportions that are highly inconsistent with their representation in the local forests today. We note this phenomenon for two taxa in particular: 1) the genus Manilkara, which dominates the charcoal assemblages of Naachtun, but grows in relatively low proportions in modern Central Lowlands forests, and 2) breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum), which is widespread in the modern forests of the region, but whose wood is almost absent in the archaeological record. Based on ethno-graphic and ethnohistoric accounts, many researchers have argued that both of these trees would have played a major role in ancient Maya agroforestry. Therefore, it becomes necessary to determine how accurately the occurrence of Manilkara and Brosimum in archaeological charcoal records reflects their use in the past. We explore the hypothesis that combustion processes may create taphonomic biases that lead to the differential preservation of certain Maya Lowland tree taxa, and thus distort the representivity of the charcoal spectra recovered from ancient Maya sites. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted 35 experimental fires using five of the principal tree species of the modern forest around the site of Naachtun, including Manilkara and Brosimum. The charcoal assemblages produced through these fires were systematically identified and studied using quantitative methods. Our results indicate that significant differences exist among these taxa as a result of combustion, and that these phenomena are consistently observed for each taxon through multiple controlled trials. Thus, anthracological analyses are indeed appropriate for reconstructing human-environmental interactions in the Central Lowland forest, but certain predictable taphonomic biases must be taken into account when interpreting the charcoal data.
This paper focuses on the process of abandonment in pre-Hispanic Maya societies. Toward the end o... more This paper focuses on the process of abandonment in pre-Hispanic Maya societies. Toward the end of the Classic period (250–950 CE), the general desertion of the Central Lowland cities gave place to multiple acts – including fires and on-floor ash spreading – intended to ritually terminate the occupation of houses and buildings. While the urban area of Naachtun, Northern Peten, was apparently depopulated by the end of the Terminal Classic (830–950 CE), fire ceremonies were performed in two political buildings during the Early Postclassic (950–1250 CE). The detailed study of the remaining charcoal deposits and their comparison with habitual Late and Terminal Classic abandonment deposits in households allows us to examine the material, social and environmental dimension of these fire ceremonies. We argue that these late rituals were held by people who were still tied to the city and that they are thus distinct from those performed as part of pilgrimages to sacred landscapes during the Late Postclassic and Colonial times. Instead, we state that they reflect the continuity of rites and of collective memory drawn from Naachtun’s history, providing indirect evidence that human settlements persisted around the abandoned cities for some time after the collapse of Classic political systems.
Fuelling ancient Maya cities and industries has been identified for some time now as a critical c... more Fuelling ancient Maya cities and industries has been identified for some time now as a critical concern for the pre-Columbian Maya, especially since there is evidence of dramatic deforestation throughout the Maya Lowlands during the Preclassic and Classic periods. This article aims to trace the domestic fuel economy at the lowland site of Naachtun, Guatemala, over 8 centuries (150-950 ce) in order to discover its role in the development of society. A significant anthracological (charcoal) dataset from household contexts is examined through multivariate analyses and sequencing. A detailed statement of taxon identification is provided. The results demonstrate that there were two systems of firewood use over time. The first consisted of the sustainable use of fragmented, diverse woodlands. The second, beginning around 750 ce, changed to a heavier reliance on multipurpose , fruit-bearing trees and pine wood. We hypothesize that forest resource management was initially linked to an extensive, subsistence-based farming system in which mature forests and fallow land were constantly renewed, ensuring their sustainability. The change towards the use of woodlands enriched with useful plants (perhaps forest gardens or fruit tree plantations) was probably an adaptation strategy at the time of the Naachtun population peak. It suggests that fuel was now subject to a city allocation system that relied on new supply sources, some of which were potentially remote. Our results also indicate a substantially drier forest cover during at least the Early Classic period in the Naachtun region, corroborating regional palaeoclimate data. This demonstrates the reliability and usefulness of charcoal studies for palaeo-ecological reconstructions in the high biodiversity tropical forests of the Maya Lowlands.
Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the n... more Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the nature of these forest economies and their long-term impact on the landscape are still vigorously debated. We address this issue through charcoal analysis at the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Guatemala), systematically analyzing the use of the breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) trees for domestic firewood over eight centuries. These two species are among the most economically and ecologically valuable for modern Maya people, and have been at the core of the debate concerning ancient Maya subsistence economy. We carry out an experimental anthracological study and discuss the implications of its results from a diachronic and taphonomic perspective for the ancient Maya site of Naachtun. We assume that sapodilla wood was intensively exploited as a primary source of fuel throughout the site's occupation history, and that its importance in the fuel economy until the city's abandonment was the product of careful management practices. Our results also indicate that breadnut wood use may have been much more significant than generally perceived in the charcoal records of Maya Lowland sites. An increase in breadnut wood use during the Late Classic, which corresponds to the demographic apogee of Naachtun, is evidence that this tree was of sufficient economic and/or ecological importance to be maintained despite the growing population pressure on the local forest.
Ancient Maya sylviculture of breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum Sw.) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (... more Ancient Maya sylviculture of breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum Sw.) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen) at Naachtun (Guatemala): A reconstruction based on charcoal analysis a b s t r a c t Researchers have long argued that the ancient Maya actively exploited forest resources, but the nature of these forest economies and their long-term impact on the landscape are still vigorously debated. We address this issue through charcoal analysis at the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Guatemala), systematically analyzing the use of the breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) and sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) trees for domestic firewood over eight centuries. These two species are among the most economically and ecologically valuable for modern Maya people, and have been at the core of the debate concerning ancient Maya subsistence economy. We carry out an experimental anthracological study and discuss the implications of its results from a diachronic and taphonomic perspective for the ancient Maya site of Naachtun. We assume that sapodilla wood was intensively exploited as a primary source of fuel throughout the site's occupation history, and that its importance in the fuel economy until the city's abandonment was the product of careful management practices. Our results also indicate that breadnut wood use may have been much more significant than generally perceived in the charcoal records of Maya Lowland sites. An increase in breadnut wood use during the Late Classic, which corresponds to the demographic apogee of Naachtun, is evidence that this tree was of sufficient economic and/or ecological importance to be maintained despite the growing population pressure on the local forest.
Observation of archaeological charcoal records from Maya sites, and in particular, the Classic si... more Observation of archaeological charcoal records from Maya sites, and in particular, the Classic site of Naachtun (Northern Peten, Guatemala), indicates that certain woody taxa tend to occur in proportions that are highly inconsistent with their representation in the local forests today. We note this phenomenon for two taxa in particular: 1) the genus Manilkara, which dominates the charcoal assemblages of Naachtun, but grows in relatively low proportions in modern Central Lowlands forests, and 2) breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum), which is widespread in the modern forests of the region, but whose wood is almost absent in the archaeological record. Based on ethno-graphic and ethnohistoric accounts, many researchers have argued that both of these trees would have played a major role in ancient Maya agroforestry. Therefore, it becomes necessary to determine how accurately the occurrence of Manilkara and Brosimum in archaeological charcoal records reflects their use in the past. We explore the hypothesis that combustion processes may create taphonomic biases that lead to the differential preservation of certain Maya Lowland tree taxa, and thus distort the representivity of the charcoal spectra recovered from ancient Maya sites. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted 35 experimental fires using five of the principal tree species of the modern forest around the site of Naachtun, including Manilkara and Brosimum. The charcoal assemblages produced through these fires were systematically identified and studied using quantitative methods. Our results indicate that significant differences exist among these taxa as a result of combustion, and that these phenomena are consistently observed for each taxon through multiple controlled trials. Thus, anthracological analyses are indeed appropriate for reconstructing human-environmental interactions in the Central Lowland forest, but certain predictable taphonomic biases must be taken into account when interpreting the charcoal data.
This paper focuses on the process of abandonment in pre-Hispanic Maya societies. Toward the end o... more This paper focuses on the process of abandonment in pre-Hispanic Maya societies. Toward the end of the Classic period (250–950 CE), the general desertion of the Central Lowland cities gave place to multiple acts – including fires and on-floor ash spreading – intended to ritually terminate the occupation of houses and buildings. While the urban area of Naachtun, Northern Peten, was apparently depopulated by the end of the Terminal Classic (830–950 CE), fire ceremonies were performed in two political buildings during the Early Postclassic (950–1250 CE). The detailed study of the remaining charcoal deposits and their comparison with habitual Late and Terminal Classic abandonment deposits in households allows us to examine the material, social and environmental dimension of these fire ceremonies. We argue that these late rituals were held by people who were still tied to the city and that they are thus distinct from those performed as part of pilgrimages to sacred landscapes during the Late Postclassic and Colonial times. Instead, we state that they reflect the continuity of rites and of collective memory drawn from Naachtun’s history, providing indirect evidence that human settlements persisted around the abandoned cities for some time after the collapse of Classic political systems.
Fuelling ancient Maya cities and industries has been identified for some time now as a critical c... more Fuelling ancient Maya cities and industries has been identified for some time now as a critical concern for the pre-Columbian Maya, especially since there is evidence of dramatic deforestation throughout the Maya Lowlands during the Preclassic and Classic periods. This article aims to trace the domestic fuel economy at the lowland site of Naachtun, Guatemala, over 8 centuries (150-950 ce) in order to discover its role in the development of society. A significant anthracological (charcoal) dataset from household contexts is examined through multivariate analyses and sequencing. A detailed statement of taxon identification is provided. The results demonstrate that there were two systems of firewood use over time. The first consisted of the sustainable use of fragmented, diverse woodlands. The second, beginning around 750 ce, changed to a heavier reliance on multipurpose , fruit-bearing trees and pine wood. We hypothesize that forest resource management was initially linked to an extensive, subsistence-based farming system in which mature forests and fallow land were constantly renewed, ensuring their sustainability. The change towards the use of woodlands enriched with useful plants (perhaps forest gardens or fruit tree plantations) was probably an adaptation strategy at the time of the Naachtun population peak. It suggests that fuel was now subject to a city allocation system that relied on new supply sources, some of which were potentially remote. Our results also indicate a substantially drier forest cover during at least the Early Classic period in the Naachtun region, corroborating regional palaeoclimate data. This demonstrates the reliability and usefulness of charcoal studies for palaeo-ecological reconstructions in the high biodiversity tropical forests of the Maya Lowlands.
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