Rain harvesting in the rainforest : the ancient Maya agricultural landscape of Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico 9781407303598, 1407303597

Table of contents :
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
SUMMARY
RESI.JMEN
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER l. QUESTIONS, OBJECTIVES CONTRIBUTIONS AND FRAMEWORK
Research Questions
Advances in Maya Subsistence Research
The Archaeological Site of Calakmul
The Importance of Landscape
The Aims of this Work
General Objective
Specific Objectives
The Contributions of this Study
Why Archaeological Landscapes?
What is a Landscape?
Studying Landscapes
Landscape Archaeology
Landscape Researchers
Landscape Archaeology in the Maya Area
The Way of Approaching Landscape in this Study
CHAPTER 2. THE MAYA KINGDOM OF CALAKMUL
Mesoamerica
Maya Area
Mesoamerica and Maya People Through Time
The Kingdom of Calakmul
The Name of the Site
Site Exploration
Phases of Calakmul
Calakmul Inhabitants
Calakmul Rulers
Description of the Site
The Extension of Calakmul and its Catchment Area
CHAPTER 3. THE PHYSICAL SETTING OF CALAKMUL
Location of Calakmul
Physical Characteristics
Climate
Physiography
Geology
Soils
Hydrology
Vegetation
Fauna
Calakmul Archaeological Reconnaissance
Methodology for Studying Landscape
Calakmul Landscape Units
Structural Plateau of Karstic Development
Strong and Moderate Hillside Slopes
Eroded Relief
Karstic Depression
The Boundaries of Calakmul
Hydrology of Calakmul
Bajo
Aguadas and Sinkholes
Corriental
Non-Permanent Streams
Chultuno'ob
Sartenejas
Limestone Quarries
The Channel System of Calakmul
Corriental Water Reservoirs
Circular Feature
Lowering the Water Flux
CHAPTER 4. THE VEGETATION OF CALAKMUL
The Vegetation of Calakmul and Periphery
Studies of Past Vegetation
CHAPTER 5. SOILS AND LAND EVALUATION OF CALAKMUL
The Importance of Soils
What is a Soil?
Soil Research in Yucatan Peninsula
Soil Research in Calakmul Area
The Purpose of the Soil Survey in the Context of this Study
Procedures for Soil Survey
Surface Properties
Physiographic Position
Slope
Micro-Relief
Erosion
Superficial Drainage
Physical Properties
Color
Effective Depth
Density and Porosity
Permeability
Texture
Stoniness
Structure
Humidity
Chemical Properties
Organic matter
pH
Calcium Carbonates
Soluble Salts
Phosphorous
Cation Exchange
Fertility
The Soils of Calakmul
Lithosols (I), Lithic Leptosol (Lpq) or Tsek'el
Rendzinas (E), Rendsic Leptosol (Lpk) or Pus lu'um
Calcaric Vertisols (Vc), Calcic Vertisol (Vk) or Ya ax horn
Vertic Gleysols (GLv) or Ak'alche
The Soil Map of Calakmul
Land Evaluation
Procedures for Land Evaluation in Calakmul
Suitability Classes in Calakmul
Rainfed Milpa Agriculture with Two Crops per Year
Rainfed Milpa Agriculture with One Crop per Year
Calakmul Swidden System Yield
CH MTER 6. THE ANCIENT AGRICULTI JRAL LANDSCAPE OF CALAKMUL
Climate and Landscape in the Maya Area
Climate and Landscape in Calakmul
Agriculture
Agriculture in Mesoamerica
Ancient Maya Agriculture
REFERENCES
Myths Concerning Ancient Maya Agriculture
The Milpa
Wetland Agriculture
Wetland Agriculture at Calakmul
Rainforest Management
Rain Harvesting in Calakmul Forest
City Occupation
Ceramics
Lithic s
The Population of Calakmul
The Agricultural Landscape of Calakmul
Work Still to do at Calakmul
The Contribution of This Study
APPENDIX 1. PROCEDURES FOR PREPARING AND ANALYZING SOILS
Collecting and Preparing Soil Sampling
Color Protocol
Soil pH Protocol
Soil Conductivity Protocol
Soil Texture Protocol
Organic Matter Protocol
Hanna Mehlich Extraction Procedure and Phosphorus Test for Soil
APPENDIX 2. FORMS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOIL PROFILE DESCRIPTION
Description of the Environment of the Soil Profile
Horizon Description
APPENDIX 3. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF CALAKMUL SOILS
Physical Analyses of Calakmul Soil Profiles
Chemical Analyses of Calakmul Soil Profiles
Soil Pits Profiles
APPENDIX 4. CERAMICS AND LITHICS OF EDAPHOLOGICAL PITS
Ceramics of Edaphological Pits of Calakmul
Lithics of Edaphological Pits of Calakmul