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Understanding Ancient Maya Agricultural Terrace Systems through Lidar and Hydrological Mapping

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2017

Scott Macrae  and
Gyles Iannone
Scott Macrae
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Turlington Hall, PO Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305 smacrae@ufl.edu
Gyles Iannone
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Trent University, West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON K9L-0G2
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Abstract

Lidar has been revolutionary to the understanding of ancient Maya anthropogenic landscapes. This is no more apparent than in western Belize, where the scale and resolution of these images have identified vast networks of agricultural terrace systems, revealing their true extent and density. This paper moves beyond the initial identification of terrace distribution to use lidar imagery in combination with digital elevation models (DEM) and hydrological mapping programs (Arc Hydro) to explore the drainage catchments associated with agricultural terraces at the ancient Maya site Waybil, a minor center within the Minanha polity in the North Vaca Plateau. We specifically address how the builders of these relic agricultural features worked with the natural topography to manipulate and create more effective catchments and drainage routes. Results from hydrological modeling describe how terraces created smaller drainage catchments by increasing lower levels of flow accumulation and redirecting routes laterally across the topography. Over a decade of research within this sub-region provides the necessary survey, excavations, and chronological datasets to accurately assess the efficacy of the combined methods for relic terrace drainage analysis.

Lidar ha sido revolucionario para la comprensión de los paisajes antropogénicos de la Antigua Maya. Esto ha sido evidente en el oeste de Belice, donde la escala y la resolución de estas imágenes han identificado enormes redes de sistemas de terrazas agrícolas, revelando su verdadero alcance y densidad. Este estudio va más allá de la identificación inicial de la distribución de terrazas utilizando imágenes lidar en combinación con los modelos digitales de elevación (DEM) y programas de mapas hidrológicos (Arco Hydro) para explorar las cuencas de drenaje asociadas con terrazas agrícolas en el antiguo sitio maya Waybil, un centro menor dentro del sistema Minaha en la Meseta Vaca Norte. Específicamente explicamos cómo los constructores de estas reliquias agrícolas trabajaron con la topografía natural para manipular y crear más eficaces, rutas de captación y el drenaje. Resultados de modelación hidrológica describen cómo terrazas crearon pequeñas cuencas de drenaje por aumento de niveles de acumulación de flujo y redirigir rutas lateralmente a través de la topografía. Más de una década de investigación dentro de esta sub-región nos provee los estudios, las excavaciones y los conjuntos de datos cronológicos para evaluar con precisión la eficacia de esta combinación de métodos al analizar el drenaje de terrazas de reliquia.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 4 , Issue 3: Special Issue: Progression and Issues in the Mesoamerican Geospatial Revolution , August 2016 , pp. 371 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2016

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