The Great Maya Droughts in Cultural Context: Case Studies in Resilience and Vulnerability

Figures

Figures 1.1. Map showing the location of key centers discussed in the text 13 2.1. An “adaptive cycle” and its principal components 24 2.2. A panarchy showing the relationships between three interconnected adaptive cycles 32 3.1. Map showing Richardson Gill’s model for “three phases of collapse,” based on last monument dates 59 3.2. Map showing the portion of the Maya subarea that has the highest annual rainfall, but that also exhibits the earliest Terminal monument dates 62 3.3.The relationship between different types of droughts 66 4.1.Temperature change under endmember simulated deforestation 80 4.2. Precipitation change under endmember simulated deforestation 81 4.3. Simulated naturally occurring drought periods, 1870–2000 82 4.4. Schematic of the modeling system to be utilized in the study 83 FIGURES xii 4.5.Theoretical positive feedback loop linking food production, deforestation, and climatic effects 84 5.1. Location of Maya subarea 88 5.2. Peopling of the Americas and Mesoamerica 92 5.3. Cariaco Basin 14ka titanium distribution with high and low thresholds 95 5.4. ITCZ schematic at dry March and wet September annual extremes 96 5.5. Cariaco 8-4k titanium distribution with high and low thresholds 97 5.6. Cariaco 4-2k titanium distribution with high and low thresholds 97 5.7. Cariaco Comp 6-5K over 2-1K titanium distribution with high and low thresholds 105 6.1. Map showing part of the east-central portion of the Yucatan Peninsula, including the eastern fringe of the Mirador Basin, the faulted eastern edge of the Peten Karst Plateau, and the horst and graben topography of the Three Rivers Region 109 6.2. Elevational cross-section from the Mirador Basin to the Caribbean coast of Belize 110 6.3. Pollen frequency diagram of the Laguna Puerto Arturo Core 112 6.4. Composition and pollen frequency of a core from Aguada Tintal, near San Bartolo, Guatemala 118 6.5. Cross-section of the edge of Bajo Majunche, near San Bartolo, Peten 122 6.6. Cross-section of the southern edge of Bajo Donato, near San Bartolo, Peten 123 8.1. Map of the Petexbatun region 160 8.2. Map of Preclassic villages Bayak and Battel 164 8.3. Map of part of Tamarindito showing agricultural innovations 165 FIGURES xiii 8.4. The Dos Pilas Kingdom at its maximum extent 167 8.5. Defenses at Dos Pilas’West Plaza Group, AD 761 169 8.6. Reconstruction drawing of Aguateca showing fortifications 170 8.7. Map and reconstruction drawing of a fortified village west of Aguateca 171 8.8. Reconstruction drawing of Punta de Chimino 172 9.1.Trade route of the Classic period between highlands and lowlands with western routes passing through the upper Pasion Region 186 9.2. Upper Pasion River and northern Verapaz highland interface region of 1999–2010 investigations 187 9.3. Pasion River and Verapaz and Transversal Valley exchange routes of the western Peten 188 9.4. Schematic map indicating the juncture at Cancuen of the east-west land transversal at the base of the highlands, the northsouth route by river, and the southern route through highland valleys 189 9.5. “Greater Cancuen” showing peninsular epicenter, head of navigation, and agricultural and population support zones 191 9.6.The Royal Palace of Cancuen 193 9.7. Epicenter showing palace area, elite complexes and port zones excavated or under investigation 194 9.8. Complexes, barrios, and ports under investigation 2008–2014 at the northern epicenter and the “head of navigation” 196 9.9. Cancuen head of navigation, ports, and production areas—showing normal river flood levels and deeper channel of the Pasion River 196 FIGURES xiv 9.10. “The Great Detour” of Taj Chan Ahk through which Cancuen took control of the “transversal” heading west and created a route circumventing the downriver collapse (ca. AD 750–800) 197 10.1. Regional map of the western Maya lowlands with Classic period sites, major rivers, and lakes 208 10.2. Water in the West: (a) the Usumacinta River near Tecolote; (b) the Budsilha Falls flowing into the Usumacinta River, west of Piedras Negras; (c) the Arroyo Macabilero near El Cayo; (d) the Laguna Oscura near La Mar 215 10.3. Modern mean annual rainfall in the Maya area 216 10.4. House group cistern at Tecolote, Guatemala: (a) the excavation assistant is standing in the cistern with his right hand on...