Was the Mayan civilisation wiped out by an extreme drought? Study of Great Blue Hole suggests

UK Daily Mail ^ | December 30, 2014 | Jonathan O'Callaghan

[C19fan]

For hundreds of years the Mayans dominated large parts of the Americas until, mysteriously in the 8th and 9th century AD, a large chunk of the Mayan civilisation collapsed. The reason for this collapse has been hotly debated, but now scientists say they might have an answer - an intense drought that lasted a century. Studies of sediments in the Great Blue Hole in Belize suggest a lack of rains caused the disintegration of the Mayan civilisation, and a second dry spell forced them to relocate elsewhere.

[C19fan]

My wife is originally from Guatemala. I had the chance to go to the Mayan ruins at Tikal and Copan. The people who ran Tikal built massive reservoirs near the center of the city to capture the rain water during the rainy season.

[rfreedom4u]

an intense drought that lasted a century

So it wasn’t the conquistadors after all huh?

[C19fan]

What is the called the Classical Period of the Mayans ended way before the Spanish came. The Mayans moved to the Central Highlands in Guatemala and those were the Mayans the Spanish encountered.

[a fool in paradise]

Caused by SUVs in Europe at the time, no doubt. #GLOBALCLIMATECHANGE

[trebb]

The hole formed tens of thousands of years ago when sea levels were much lower, being filled as the oceans began to rise.

If only they had been able to hold on until global warming kicked in...

Went to Cancun some years ago and made the bus trip through the forest to Chichen Itza - enjoyed it.

[null and void]

Yes, yes, yes, but did they save the Delta Smelt???

[WayneS]

Drought?

That means: Global “climate change”.

That means: Bush’s fault!

[NorthstarMom]

I’ve heard a theory that since they tossed the remains of their human sacrifices into the same water they used for drinking, they eventually did themselves in.

[arthurus]

The Mayan cities in the areas that stayed wet died out first. The cities in the dried up areas lasted much longer. There was a drought.

[SoCal Pubbie]

But didn’t Cortez meet a few Mayans along the coast when he landed?

[Flag_This]

As a complete amateur, my understanding is that some of the oldest Mayan towns and cities rose in Guatemala and then the Mayan civilization spread into the Yucatan. Places like Tikal and Copan were long past their heyday when cities like Chichen Itza rose to importance. And like you said, the Classic period ended a few centuries before the Spanish showed up. But the article is mistaken to suggest one drought ended the Mayan civilization.

[C19fan]

There were and still are Mayans but when the Spanish arrived the great cities were abandoned for a long time.

[C19fan]

I think that is a good point. Tikal was abandoned by 950 AD but Chichen Itza lasted until the 13th century.

[RobinOfKingston]

So it wasn’t the conquistadors after all huh?

I don't think the conquistadors can be let of the hook, it was the Aztecs they fetched to ruin.

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[Sam Gamgee]

What was a mystery to me is how the Mayans, residing on porous limestone table lands managed to become so wealthy. It was totally unsuitable for agriculture, so they would have had to rely on a vibrant trading system to get the foodstuffs required.

[C19fan]

They used systems like raised fields and terraces to grow their crops. There is an abundance of fruits and the like from the rainforest too.

[Sam Gamgee]

Interesting. Thanks

[Caipirabob]

I’ve heard a theory that since they tossed the remains of their human sacrifices into the same water they used for drinking, they eventually did themselves in.

I assure you they were well aware of what would happen if they did that.

I've been to one of the major sacrificial areas in South America. It was one of my bucket list items that I dreamed about as a child, this of course being in the days when schools taught basic history. Reading about the history there, I could see in my mind the steep sides of the mountain descending down into a hidden caldera filled with dark water. I imagined seeing the rituals, the sacrifices and the buttload of golden treasures dropped into the lake as an offering to their various deities. ;D

In the end, it looked very similar to what I imagined. The actual site was far larger than what I imagined, though. Back then, we didn't have as many photos available so I didn't know what it looked like until I saw it for myself 40 years later.

The site was "El Dorado"...the real one. No, unlike my childhood fantasies of discovering golden treasure, I didn't even consider diving into the dark water...*shiver*

[Hot Tabasco]

I had the chance to go to the Mayan ruins at Tikal and Copan.

I toured Copan also back around 2003.....pretty cool place