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The Deposition and Chronology of Cenote T ’isil: A Multiproxy Study of Human/Environment Interaction in the Northern M aya Lowlands of Southeast M exico
Author(s) -
Wollwage Lance,
Fedick Scott,
Sedov Sergey,
SolleiroRebolledo Elizabeth
Publication year - 2012
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.21418
Subject(s) - wetland , sinkhole , deposition (geology) , natural (archaeology) , chronology , sedimentation , geology , ecosystem , physical geography , karst , sediment , geochemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , ecology , geography , paleontology , biology , geotechnical engineering
Cenotes (natural wells or sinkholes) comprise the most common landscape features in the northern M aya L owlands of the Y ucatán P eninsula, M éxico. Detailed study of dated soil‐sedimentary sequences, recovered from a cenote at the archaeological site T ’isil and nearby wetlands, allows a partial reconstruction of environmental variability at the site for the last 2000 years. Biogenic calcite sedimentation and C alcisol development occur during three intervals of increased inundation in cenote and wetland environments, ca. A.D. 300, A.D. 1000, and A.D. 1300. Periods of increased inundation in the cenote and wetlands correlate with wetter climatic intervals, and periods of M aya occupation at sites in the Y alahau region. Evidence for M aya modification of the cenote environment may relate to regional wetland agricultural practices.