Development and Disintegration of Maya Political Systems in Response to Climate Change

Kennett, D. J. and Breitenbach, S. F. M. and Aquino, V. V. and Asmerom, Y. and Awe, J. and Baldini, J. U. L. and Bartlein, P. and Culleton, B. J. and Ebert, C. and Jazwa, C. and Macri, M. J. and Marwan, N. and Polyak, V. and Prufer, K. M. and Ridley, H. E. and Sodemann, H. and Winterhalder, B. and Haug, G. H. (2012) Development and Disintegration of Maya Political Systems in Response to Climate Change. Science, 338 (6108). pp. 788-791. ISSN 0036-8075, 1095-9203 DOI https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1226299

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Abstract

The role of climate change in the development and demise of Classic Maya civilization (300 to 1000 C.E.) remains controversial because of the absence of well-dated climate and archaeological sequences. We present a precisely dated subannual climate record for the past 2000 years from Yok Balum Cave, Belize. From comparison of this record with historical events compiled from well-dated stone monuments, we propose that anomalously high rainfall favored unprecedented population expansion and the proliferation of political centers between 440 and 660 C.E. This was followed by a drying trend between 660 and 1000 C.E. that triggered the balkanization of polities, increased warfare, and the asynchronous disintegration of polities, followed by population collapse in the context of an extended drought between 1020 and 1100 C.E.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	NILAREP;
Subjects:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Divisions:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Journal or Publication Title:	Science
Volume:	338
Page Range:	pp. 788-791
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1226299
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	20 Aug 2015 14:49
Last Modified:	20 Aug 2015 14:49
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/3472

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