4,000-year-old Mayan fishing network found in Belize
An extensive fishing network has been discovered in Belize, believed to be 4,000 years old. This sheds light on how the Mayan civilization sustained its communities through complex aquatic food systems. This research shows that a network of ponds and earthen canals allowed the ancient Mayan people to secure food sources by directing fish and other aquatic species to controlled areas. The study suggests that the network likely supported the nutritional needs of as many as 15,000 individuals annually, and played a role in the growth of early Mayan settlements.
Discovering a pre-Mayan food system
The researchpublished in Science Advances on November 22, was led by Eleanor Harrison-Buck, an archaeologist from the University of New Hampshire, and used advanced remote sensing techniques to locate 167 shallow channels and nearly 60 ponds in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize.
These features, which were mapped during the 2017 dry season, are believed to have been initially constructed by local hunter-gatherers as a means of adapting to changes in the wetland landscape caused by a drought between 4,200 and 3,900 years past. During this period, local people are thought to have switched from a diet dominated by maize to one dependent on fish, turtles, mollusks, waterfowl and amaranth seeds.
Growth of Mayan centers through use of aquatic resources
The fishing system was used extensively about 3,200 to 1,800 years ago, a period that coincides with the establishment of larger urban and ceremonial Mayan centers. One canal, identified by the team, is directly connected to the Mayan center of Chau Hiix, suggesting the system’s role in sustaining nearby populations.
Further research is planned, with fieldwork aimed at uncovering remains of pre-Mayan settlements in the area and additional canal systems in other wetlands of Belize and southern Mexico. This research provides new insights into how early human communities adapted their environments to ensure food security, providing a crucial foundation for the eventual rise of the Mayan civilization.
