An extensive fish-trapping network believed to be 4,000 years old has been discovered in Belize, shedding light on how the Maya civilization sustained their communities through complex aquatic food systems. This research shows that a network of ponds and earthen channels enabled the ancient Maya people to secure food resources by channeling fish and other aquatic species in controlled areas. Studies suggest that the network probably met the nutritional needs of 15,000 individuals annually, playing a role in the development of early Maya settlements.
Discovery of pre-Maya food systems
ResearchPublished Nov. 22 in Science Advances, the study, led by archaeologist Eleanor Harrison-Buck of the University of New Hampshire, used advanced remote sensing techniques to detect 167 shallow channels and approximately 60 ponds in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize.
These features, mapped during the 2017 dry season, are believed to have initially been formed by local hunter-gatherers as a means of adapting to changes in wetland landscapes caused by drought between 4,200 and 3,900 years ago. During this period, local people are believed to have shifted from a diet dominated by maize to one dependent on fish, turtles, mollusks, waterfowl and amaranth seeds.
Development of Maya centers through aquatic resource use
Fish trapping systems were used intensively from about 3,200 to 1,800 years ago, a period that coincides with the establishment of large Maya urban and ceremonial centers. One channel identified by the team connects directly to the Maya center of Chau Haix, suggesting a role for the system in maintaining nearby populations.
Further investigation is planned, aimed at uncovering remains of pre-Maya settlements in the area and additional canal systems in other Belizean wetlands and southern Mexico. This research provides new insight into how early human communities modified their environment to ensure food security, providing a vital resource base for the eventual rise of the Maya civilization.