Based on data obtained throughout the history of excavations in the former Mayan territory, archaeologists were able to describe the political situation in the ancient state and compare it with climatic changes, thereby clarifying the reasons for the decline of civilization. The study, published in the journal Global and Planetary Change, significantly clarifies the picture of the rapid extinction of a powerful civilization.
Previously, it was established that the main occupation of the ancient Maya was slash and burn agriculture. Due to advances in agriculture, the population constantly increased, the cities developed. For a long time, the main explanation for the fall of the Mayan civilization was considered to be the strongest drought that began in the 9th century. In the course of the latest study, scientists compared the dates of inscriptions found in the southern and northern territories on stones and remains of ceramic products. It turned out that even during the drought, the inhabitants of the northern territories remained creative and socially active. In the 10th century, revival began in the northern cities. It follows from this that the drought had a strong negative impact mainly on the southern territories, while the northern, with the political center of Chichen Itza, managed to survive the climatic catastrophe.
Researchers argue: even before the onset of the drought, the state was socially and politically unstable, the first attempts at military clashes took place. After the drought, the situation deteriorated sharply: the affected southern cities began to fight with the northern ones for food resources, which led to a serious fragmentation of the ancient state.
In addition, previous hypotheses have been confirmed. Providing food for a huge population required a constant increase in arable land. Deforestation and drainage of soils led to localized droughts, which contributed to the ensuing large-scale drought. The Mayan migration to the Caribbean coast in the middle of the 11th century was caused by hunger and moisture deficit.