PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES—The Classic Maya constructed wetlands that can offer lessons for modern water management, according to a study. Classic Maya cities in the tropical southern lowlands of Central America relied on reservoirs during annual dry seasons and periods of climatic instability for more than 1,000 years until around 900 CE. However, stored water can stagnate and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Lisa J. Lucero combined evidence from archaeological excavations, sediment cores, and iconographic and hieroglyphic records to reveal that Maya reservoirs functioned similarly to present-day constructed wetlands*. In constructed wetlands, aquatic plants remove excess nutrients from the water and support diverse zooplankton, resulting in a self-cleaning water supply. Archaeological excavations unearthed gravity-fed reservoirs that were constructed at least as early as 400 BCE and developed into sophisticated water management systems by 700 CE, with dams, channels, switching stations, and filtration systems. Aquatic plants used in constructed wetlands are now common in the region. Pollen from water lilies (Nymphaea ampla) that only grow in clean water has been found in sediment cores from several Maya reservoirs. Water lilies are also featured prominently in Maya iconography and were associated with kingship. According to the author, uncovering how Classic Maya reservoirs supplied clean water could inform the improvement of contemporary constructed wetlands.
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Lidar map of Tikal, Guatemala, showing some of its reservoirs. Francisco Estrada-Belli, PAQUNAM LiDAR Initiative
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Article Source: PNAS news release
*“Ancient Maya reservoirs, constructed wetlands, and future water needs,” by Lisa J. Lucero. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 9-Oct-2023. https://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2306870120
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