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Environmental and cultural changes in highland Guatemala inferred from Lake Amatitlán sediments
Author(s) -
Velez Maria I.,
Curtis Jason H.,
Brenner Mark,
Escobar Jaime,
Leyden Barbara W.,
Popenoe de Hatch Marion
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.20352
Subject(s) - deforestation (computer science) , maya , reforestation , holocene , geography , eutrophication , population , environmental change , paleolimnology , ecology , sediment , climate change , archaeology , geology , nutrient , forestry , paleontology , biology , demography , sociology , computer science , programming language
We inferred the late Holocene environmental history of the Guatemala highlands from multiple lines of evidence in a sediment core from Lake Amatitlán. Inferred environmental changes are generally synchronous with archaeologically documented highland Maya cultural shifts. Population increases in the Middle Preclassic, Early Classic, and Late Postclassic are associated with deforestation and soil erosion. Land abandonment in the Late Preclassic, Late Classic, and Early Postclassic is associated with evidence for reforestation and soil stabilization. Diatoms indicate relatively lower lake level and greater trophic status at times of reduced human impact, from ca. 250 B.C. to A.D. 125 and from ca. A.D. 875 to 1375. Decreased water levels were probably due to drier climate, to reforestation, or both. Lake eutrophication was caused by reduced water volume combined with a legacy of long‐term agricultural activity. Our data contribute to the understanding of relations among ancient Maya culture, climate, and environment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.