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The Paleoecology and Ancient Settlement of the Petexbatun Region, Guatemala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2008

Nicholas Dunning ,
Timothy Beach  and
David Rue
Nicholas Dunning
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0131, USA
Timothy Beach
Affiliation:
Science, Technology, and International Affairs, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
David Rue
Affiliation:
Archaeological and Historical Consultants, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Centre Hall, PA 16828, USA
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Abstract

The Petexbatun region has a series of upland ridges surrounded by lowland wetlands. In Preclassic times, ancient Maya peoples began colonizing the region along waterways. Although few in number, they cleared large areas of upland tropical forest for agriculture and induced significant soil erosion. Population contracted in the region during the Early Classic, and mature tropical forest growth returned. During the Late Classic, population expanded rapidly across the region, forest clearance resumed, and desirable, intensively cultivated, upland areas were divided by an elaborate wall system. Upland agriculture during the Late Classic included the use of several types of terracing that significantly checked soil erosion during this period. Considerable variation may have existed between the urban agriculture practiced in the region's three major centers—Dos Pilas, Tamarindito, and Aguateca.

Type
Special Section: The Vanderbilt Petexbatun Archaeological Project, 1989–1994
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , Fall 1997 , pp. 255 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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References

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