Did climate change cause the end of the Maya?

[Jazzy]

The Classic Maya culture collapsed a thousand years ago because it failed to cope with climate change, scientists said today.



The Central American people had developed a sophisticated society, accurate calendars and complex architecture including pyramids.



They thrived during rainy periods but latest research shows that a prolonged drought somewhere between 800AD and 1100 brought about its collapse.



In a project led by scientists from Pennsylvania State University and Zurich, with expert input from Durham University, precisely-dated rainfall records have been made from deposits in local caves.



This was compared against a so-called 'war index', the dates of hostile events which Maya people recorded on stone monuments.



Researchers, who it is claimed have made a unique timeline linking changes in culture and climate, found war and unrest matched periods of drought.

Previously, when conditions were favourable with plentiful rain, the Maya civilisation expanded into large cities.



The findings, published in the journal Science, describe how Maya rulers commissioned monuments to record events and the research team found the frequency of texts carved in stone indicating rivalry, war and alliances increased significantly between 660AD and 900, during the drying trend.



Professor Douglas Kennett from Pennsylvania State University said: 'It is not just climate drying and drought that is important, but the preceding conditions that helped stimulate societal complexity and population expansion.



'This set the stage for societal stress and the fragmentation of political institutions later in time as conditions became drier.'

Full article with pictures



Do you think climate change caused the collapse of the Maya civilization?

 

[wirelessguru1]

YES.

 

[DrLeftover]

Why does this have the unmistakeable scent of the current political agenda to it?

 

[wirelessguru1]

Why does this have the unmistakeable scent of the current political agenda to it?

It does not matter what bthe political agenda really is since global Earth and climate changes are controlled by Nature and not by humans!!!

 

[DrLeftover]

You mean the measured warming of Mars and other planets and assorted moons in our solar system isn't caused by SUVs driven by Marvin the Martian?



damn

 

[wirelessguru1]

Humans are just like glorified ants or bees...

 

[DrLeftover]

.... half bright apes having a really bad hair day....

 

[wirelessguru1]

..or devolution (degeneration) from chimp to chump...