Explorers at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary CTWS stumbled upon evidence of a vast pre-Columbian fish-trapping complex. The discovery, made by researchers from the University of New Hampshire, dates back to the Late Archaic period (cal. 2000-1900 BCE), making it older than similar structures found in the Amazon by over a millennium.
Eleanor Harrison-Buck, an anthropology professor and head of the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project, explained that these canals were engineered to divert floodwaters into ponds for trapping fish. This innovative system could have sustained up to 15,000 individuals throughout the year.
The findings challenge conventional beliefs about ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica, highlighting that aquatic species harvesting played a crucial role alongside agriculture. The study’s results were published in Science Advances and suggest that climate changes between 2200 and 1900 BCE may have prompted these wetland enhancements as an adaptive strategy.
Contrary to expectations, radiocarbon dating revealed that these canals were constructed much earlier than previously assumed. Sediment analysis further confirmed that this landscape was primarily used for fishing rather than
Marieka Brouwer Burg, co-director of BREA and anthropology professor at the University of Vermont, proposed that these elaborate canal systems likely fostered social gatherings and annual fishing events. Such communal activities may have laid the groundwork for more complex societies like those seen in later Maya civilization around 1200 BCE.
2024-11-22 21:15:05
Post from phys.org
