Scientists have discovered what destroyed the great Mayan civilization

Articles Mar 9, 2024 0 137 Add to Reading List

The study, conducted by a team of scientists and published in Nature Communications in July 2022, reveals possible reasons for the decline of ancient Mayapan, which was the cultural and political capital of the Maya people in the 13th and 14th centuries AD.

The researchers concluded that the long drought that afflicted the region between 1400 and 1450 AD may have served as a catalyst for a chain of negative events that resulted in civil unrest and, ultimately, the political collapse of the great city.

Experts point out that climate change, including decreased rainfall, has negatively impacted agricultural practices and trade routes, putting pressure on Mayapan's population. As a result, people either died or were forced to leave the city and settle in smaller and safer settlements.

One of the key findings of the study was that the prolonged drought has increased tensions between rival factions, which in turn has led to increased conflict and unrest. Analysis of human remains confirmed the presence of signs of traumatic injuries, indicating an increase in the conflict situation.

“Our findings confirm the legendary institutional collapse of Mayapan between 1441 and 1461 CE, a consequence of civil conflict driven by political rivalries and ambitions that was inscribed in the social memory of the peoples of Yucatan, evidence of which entered the written record of the early colonial period,” they write researchers.

However, despite all the difficulties, Mayapan was able to survive and survive until the time of contact with Europe in the early 16th century AD. The study also found that decreased rainfall is associated with increased conflict, and increased rainfall is associated with increased population. This indicates that changes in the environment can have a significant impact on the development of civilization.