An anthracological approach to understanding Late Classic period cultural collapse in Mesoamerica’s northwestern frontier
An anthracological approach to understanding Late Classic period cultural collapse in Mesoamerica’s northwestern frontier
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理解中美洲西北边境古典晚期文化崩溃的人类学方法
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发表时间：
2012
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通讯作者：
Michelle Elliott
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Michelle Elliott
50多年来，研究人员一直认为，中美洲高原沙漠地区降雨的增加是造成气候变化的原因
For over 50 years, researchers have suggested that increased regional rainfall over the highland deserts of Mesoamerica�s nor-
thwestern frontier zone during the Classic period (AD 200-900) allowed for the colonization of the zone by farming groups who originated
from Central and/or West Mexico. A severe and prolonged drought is hypothesized to have later provoked the abandonment of the region by
these sedentary populations by AD 900. However, very little research has been carried out in the zone to detect evidence of this proposed
climate change. I present results from the first systematic study of wood charcoal from the northwestern frontier, comparing the data from
three Classic period ceremonial centers that span the region�s north-south gradient of intensifying aridity. The results indicate that the stron-
gest evidence of environmental degradation is found in the south (where average annual rainfall is the highest), while the sites located farther
north (with lower annual rainfall) demonstrate more stable use of wood resources. These findings suggest that anthropogenic impact played
a more significant role in regional abandonment than climate change, and that the current models of the process of the collapse in the nor-
thwestern frontier may need to be reconsidered.