Landuse and soil degradation in the southern Maya lowlands, from Pre-Classic to Post-Classic times: The case of La Joyanca (Petén, Guatemala)

Abstract

This work focuses on the impact of Maya agriculture on soil degradation. In site and out site studies in the area of the city of La Joyanca (NW Petén) show that "Maya clays" do not constitute a homogeneous unit, but represent a complex sedimentary record. A high resolution analysis leads us to document changes in rates and practices evolving in time in relation with major socio-political and economic changes. It is possible to highlight extensive agricultural practices between Early Pre-classical to Late Pre-classical times. Intensification occurs in relation with reduction of the fallow duration during Pre-classic to Classic periods. The consequences of these changes on soil erosion are discussed. However, it does not seem that the agronomic potential of the soils was significantly degraded before the end of the Classic period.

Reprint of: Impacts of Mayan land use on Laguna Tuspán watershed (Petén, Guatemala) as seen through clay and ostracode analysis

“…Over the whole sedimentary record, the total number of ostracode valves decreases within each dark lamina of the lower unit, as Table 1 List of ages available for core Tuspan-A (previously published in Galop et al, 2004;Carozza et al, 2007) and new ages for core Tuspan C (this study). well as within each Maya Clay Thick Layer.…”

“…year (Carozza et al, 2007;Galop et al, 2004). For the first time in Pet en lake studies, a detailed analysis of clay fractions and assemblages is presented, completing micro-paleontological (ostracodes) and geochemical (bulk elemental composition and stable isotopes in organic carbon) analyses on Maya Clay layers.…”

“…Historical facts foster the development of alternative theories calling for severe mismanagement of the environment resulting from sociopolitical interactions. The Mayas conducted extensive deforestation as a way to increase land surface for agriculture (Carozza et al, 2007;Dunning et al, 2012;Galop et al, 2004;McNeil, 2012;Webster, 2002). Such a practice drastically increased soil vulnerability to erosion (Beach et al, 2006(Beach et al, , 2009Cabadas-Ba ez et al, 2010).…”

“…A: Location of La Joyanca city within the Maya cultural zone, including re-known climatic records location such as Chichancanab lake (Hodell et al, 2005) and Peten Itza lakes (Anselmetti et al, 2007;Mueller et al, 2009). B: Coring locations Tuspan-A and Tuspan-C and Maya settlements in the area, from small dwelling groups to mid-size cities (Carozza et al, 2007; adapted from Galop et al, 2004).…”

The Nature and Origins of Linear Features in the Bajo de Azúcar, Guatemala: Implications for Ancient Maya Adaptation to a Changing Environment

“…These changes included widespread removal of forest cover, accelerated soil erosion, and associated aggradationwith much of the later focused on the bajos (Dunning, Beach, & Luzzadder-Beach, 2006;Carozza et al, 2007;Beach et al, 2008Beach et al, , 2015b. These changes included widespread removal of forest cover, accelerated soil erosion, and associated aggradationwith much of the later focused on the bajos (Dunning, Beach, & Luzzadder-Beach, 2006;Carozza et al, 2007;Beach et al, 2008Beach et al, , 2015b.…”