Douglas Kennett is a paleoarchaeologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He directs the multi-institutional pioneering research on the urbanization of the Smart Cities of the Classic Maya. As his team described in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, their goal is to find all the reasons for the waxing and waning of these pre-Columbian cultures. Their findings open up a new window on the deeply layered interactions that formed and transformed these vibrant urban centers over the past several centuries. In particular, they hone in on climate change, conflict, and economic parameters.
The team was motivated by a deep commitment to understand the impacts of climate change. From there they began to dig deeper into the collapse of Classic Maya cities. Using the lens of population ecology theory, they were able to quantify the drivers of urbanism throughout the Classic Maya Lowlands. This multi-faceted approach made it possible for them to conclusively determine the impact of environmental factors. It freed them to examine the social and economic conditions that spurred urban growth and decline.
Research Background
Kennett and his collaborators have been collecting archaeological data since 2012. Written by this same team seen here, which includes co-author Weston C. McCool, along with researchers from five other institutions. To get there, their research has zeroed in on shifts in population densities, violence and trauma, and measures that increase investment in agricultural systems. This harrowing theft of land and treasure has, somewhat ironically, given these archaeologists the opportunity to build a more nuanced picture of life in these ancient metropolises.
Caracol is one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Belize. It further serves as an incredible case study in Maya urban planning and societal organization. By examining evidence from Caracol and other sites, the research team has been able to document how different factors influenced population dynamics and urban growth during the Classic Maya period.
The study titled “Modeling the rise and demise of Classic Maya cities: Climate, conflict, and economies of scale” presents a nuanced understanding of how environmental changes interact with societal structures. A decades-long period of drought played a key role in these urban centers’ decline. The urgency of this issue highlights a vital connection between climate instability and social resilience.
The Role of Climate and Conflict
Kennett’s research emphasizes that the collapse of Classic Maya cities cannot be explained strictly by climatic conditions. Though conditions of aridity were essential, sociopolitical strife became an equally important factor in these cities’ existential crises. Once resources started to diminish with the shifting climatic trends, competition for land and water deepened between neighboring communities.
This relationship between climate change and conflict complicates any one-dimensional narratives about the downfall of these cities. It argues that major cities had productive and destructive ecological and social forces working on them—forces which dictated whether they thrived or failed. By tracing these interconnections, the project offers a basis for interpreting related processes in today’s urban spaces.
Today’s cities might experience population loss due to myriad factors. These include economic factors, lifestyle choices, air quality and other extenuating factors related to health crises such as pandemics. Studying how other people, other civilizations, dealt with these same issues can provide important guidance. Lessons that can help inform today’s planning and management strategies.
Implications for Modern Urban Studies
The lessons derived from Kennett’s groundbreaking research stretch well beyond an archaeological lens into the once-great Classic Maya cities. Today’s urban planners and policymakers are faced with the challenge of creating sustainable urban growth. Yet they must confront the complex, interwoven links between ecological change and social inequities.
By examining the past, modern societies can glean insights into how to build resilient communities capable of withstanding environmental stressors. Innovation in archaeology, ecology, economics, and social sciences are collectively needed, the study argues, to adopt multidisciplinary practices common to today’s urban studies.