LATE HOLOCENE FLOODPLAIN AND RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION IN BELIZE AND YUCATAN, MEXICO

This paper synthesizes the sedimentary and paleoecological evidence from 2013 and 2014 investigations on the factors of floodplain, wetland, and reservoir (aguada) aggradation in Northwestern Belize and Yucatan, Mexico. The lines of proxy evidence include extensive, new AMS dates, stratigraphy, magnetic susceptibility, geochemistry, carbon isotopes, elemental analysis, pollen, and charcoal from dated strata in an array of wetland environments. These lines of evidence provide a range of formation rates and show significant differences in the timing, use, and crop types the ancient Maya used over the Late Holocene. Mapping and excavation into water management features including canals and reservoirs suggest the intricacy of Ancient Maya land management as well as intertwined natural processes in this dynamically changing landscape. Some wetland features appear to be largely natural, whereas others are clearly Maya fields and water management features. These studies continue to show the pervasive impacts of the ancient Maya as precursors to the Anthropocene within our growing evidence for natural background rates of geomorphic change.