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The Nature and Origins of Linear Features in the Bajo de Azúcar, Guatemala: Implications for Ancient Maya Adaptation to a Changing Environment
Author(s) -
Dunning Nicholas P.,
Griffin Robert E.,
Sever Thomas L.,
Saturno William A.,
Jones John G.
Publication year - 2016
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.21568
Subject(s) - maya , geography , archaeology , population , excavation , natural (archaeology) , cartography , geology , sociology , demography
Scholars have long puzzled over the ancient human use of swampy depressions (bajos) in the interior part of the Maya Lowlands. Part of this debate has centered on the reputed, but undocumented, existence of canals in the bajos of the northeastern Peten District of Guatemala. We report on the use of satellite imagery along with fieldwork to reveal numerous linear features in the Bajo de Azúcar, the largest bajo in the northeast Peten. We conducted ground‐truthing and excavation at three linear features in two separate trips into the bajo. We also calculated sinuosity of channel segments using IKONOS and QuickBird satellite images. Our investigations indicate that the linear features are partly natural in origin, but some segments were either modified or are solely the product of human activity. We surmise that the canals most likely functioned principally to facilitate transportation across the bajo, though other uses are also possible, including drainage, water storage, and aquaculture. These uses were likely devised as responses to environmental change, population growth, and associated rising economic demands.