The evolution of the Maya coastal landscape in the Mexican Caribbean during the last 6200 years
Por:
Correa-Metrio, A., Cordero-Oviedo, C., Gamez-Nunes, E., Olivares-Casillas, G., Escobar, J., Curtis, J. H., Perez, L., Blaauw, M., Bernal, J. P.
Publicada:
15 ago 2023
Resumen:
The modern configuration of tropical coastlines is a result of changes
in sea level and regional hydroclimates during the Holocene. In some
regions, such as the Yucatan Peninsula, human occupation has also played
an important role in defining coastal dynamics. We use a multiproxy
analysis of a 6200-year-long sedimentary record from La Encantada
lagoon, located near the Bay of Chetumal, Mexican Caribbean, to
reconstruct local and regional environmental dynamics. By characterizing
the record in terms of pollen and charcoal content, and geochemical
composition, we aim to determine the relative importance of sea level
rise, long term trends of moisture availability, and anthropic
influences in the evolution of the Mayan coastal landscape. Our findings
indicate a dominance of marine influences between -6200 and 5000 cal yr.
BP, probably resulting from the rapidly rising sea level. During this
time, whereas the water column was brackish, fluvial dynamics seem
characterized by high erosion and the development of riparian mangroves.
The geochemical record indicates a millennial-scale trend towards drier
conditions, likely associated with the southward migration of the
Intertropical Convergence Zone through the Holocene. This trend is also
reflected in a progressive increase in the abundance of deciduous taxa
in the vegetation. Centennial-scale climatic dynamics, on the other
hand, seem associated with variability of the North Atlantic Subtropical
High. Anthropogenic influence is evident around -5000 cal yr. BP, when
local fires became more frequent and riparian mangroves were depleted.
Taxa associated with human influence substantially increased at -3600
cal yr. BP, coinciding with an erosion increase indicated by the
geochemical record. At -2200 cal yr. BP, anthropic disturbance
indicators decrease, suggesting a potential role of modified
agricultural practices to control soil erosion. The last -1000 years
have been characterized by a decline of agricultural activity and a
recovery of the riparian mangroves, suggesting modern vegetation is a
result of forest recovery during the last millennium. Overall, our
results show that sea level rise and changes in the regional
hydroclimate modulate the evolution of the regional landscape,
particularly through influences on the sedimentation rates. However,
human occupation represents an overpowering influence that can modulate
processes associated with natural forcings.
Filiaciones:
Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Querétaro, Juriquilla, 76230, Mexico
Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico D.F, Coyoacan, 04510, Mexico
Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico D.F, Coyoacan, 04510, Mexico
Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
Institute of Geosystems and Bioindication, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
14CHRONO Centre, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
(Corresponding Author), Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Ctr Geociencias, Juriquilla 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Ctr Geociencias, Juriquilla 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Posgrad Ciencias Tierra, Coyoacan 04510, DF, Mexico
Univ Toronto, Dept Earth Sci, Toronto, ON M5S 3B1, Canada
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Posgrad Ciencias Mar & Limnol, Coyoacan 04510, DF, Mexico
Univ Norte, Dept Ingn Civil & Ambiental, Barranquilla, Colombia
Univ Florida, Dept Geol Sci, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
Tech Univ Carolo Wilhelmina Braunschweig, Inst Geosyst & Bioindicat, Langer Kamp 19c, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
Queens Univ Belfast, 14CHRONO Ctr Archaeol & Palaeoecol, Sch Nat & Built Environm, Belfast, North Ireland
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