Ancient Maya Wetland Features in the Eastern Belize Watershed

Summary

The Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project is examining the wetlands of the eastern Belize Watershed. Within this 6000 km2 study area, there exists 122 km2 of perennial wetlands (28% of all wetlands in Belize). Here we report on the beginning stages of our investigations of an expansive wetland area in the northern part of the BREA study area. Through aerial survey we have identified ditched and drained fields and other canal features that resemble ancient wetland features found elsewhere in Belize and the Gulf Lowlands. Our long-term research goals are: 1) to document the history and aerial extent of wetland use and surrounding Maya settlement; 2) to examine the relationships that exist between wetland agriculture and climate change; and 3) to understand the local and regional economy of wetland agriculture and aquaculture, specifically during the Late-to-Terminal Classic Transition (ca. AD 750-900)—a period characterized by long-term drought, political collapse, and shifting political economies in the Maya Lowlands. With attention focused on the associated settlement, this project will shed light on the populations wetland environments were able to support and the role wetlands may have played in both local and regional economies through time, particularly during periods of extended drought.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Advances in Wetland Archaeology in the Americas

Keywords

Spatial Coverage