You may have already posted on this particular story. If so, please forgive me for duplicating.
Wow!
Their SUVs undoubtedly caused warming, a drought and the collapse of their civilization.
Interesting.
But this statement: “We’ve had this western conceit that complex civilizations can’t flourish in the tropics, that the tropics are where civilizations go to die” - tells you what the author’s real intent is: to try to diminish European culture and achievement.
Since the article admits they didn’t have the wheel or “beasts of burden”, it’s really hard to swallow that thought. The reality is that Mayan technology was about 3000 yrs behind Mediterranean and ultimately Northern European cultures. Everyone builds pyramids at some point in their development. All you need is rocks and slaves.
It’s still interesting. But it doesn’t mean we should bow to them and think of them as our equals in development.
I’m awestruck at the ability of the LIDAR. It was also ingenious that someone realized vegetation growing on limestone would absorb from the lime making it identifiable by satellite, implying structures beneath. They followed up, went out, and found structures.
What I found out was that with each succeeding new ruler, they would rebuild the city over the existing one.......
At the very back of the ruins, you could see the evidence on the high wall. In that area, they also had thousands of blocks that were labled since they were rebuilding the rear most area of the site......
I would like to add a recommendation to read “The Lost City of the Monkey Gods” by Preston. Similar type situation in Honduras. Except for the Leprosy.
Good book.
Maybe they can use this technology to find the Lost City of Z?
My wife is from Guatemala. I have been able to visit a couple of Mayan sites including Copan in Honduras and the major city of Tikal. Quite a thrill.
If Lowland Mayan civilization was more interconnected and populated where people were forced to live in marginal lands better explains how things could go south if such a complex system underwent stress say due to an extended drought.