A5027158775- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Latin American history and culture
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Botanical Research and Applications
- Dental materials and restorations
- Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
- Archaeology and Natural History
- Plant and animal studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Seed and Plant Biochemistry
- Amazonian Archaeology and Ethnohistory
- Sunflower and Safflower Cultivation
- Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
University of Cincinnati
2015-2024
University of California, San Diego
2015-2016
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
2015-2016
Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
2015-2016
Yale University
2015-2016
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2008
Chicago Botanic Garden
2004-2005
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
2005
New York Botanical Garden
1996-2001
University of Mississippi
1986-1997
Wetland research in northern Belize provides the earliest evidence for development of agriculture Maya Lowlands. Pollen data confirm introduction maize and manioc before 3000 B.C. Dramatic deforestation, beginning ca. 2500 intensifying wetland environments 1500-1300 B.C., marks an expansion agriculture, which occurred context a mixed foraging economy. By 1000 rise groundwater levels led farmers to construct drainage ditches coeval with emergence complex society 1000-400 Field manipulations...
Archaeological research in the Gulf Coast of Tabasco reveals earliest record maize cultivation Mexico. The first farmers settled along beach ridges and lagoons Grijalva River delta. Pollen from cultivated Zea appears with evidence forest clearing about 5100 calendar years B.C. (yr B.C.) [6200 14 C before present B.P.)]. Large sp. pollen, typical domesticated ( mays ), 5000 yr (6000 B.P.). A Manihot pollen grain dated to 4600 (5800 B.P.) may be manioc. About 2500 (4000 B.P.), sunflower seeds...
The access to water and the engineered landscapes accommodating its collection allocation are pivotal issues for assessing sustainability. Recent mapping, sediment coring, formal excavation at Tikal, Guatemala, have markedly expanded our understanding of ancient Maya land use. Among landscape engineering feats identified largest dam in area Central America; posited manner by which reservoir waters were released; construction a cofferdam dredging Tikal; presence springs linked initial...
Analysis of plant remains recovered from excavations at Copán in western Honduras has provided substantive data regarding agroeconomic systems the prehistoric inhabitants. The time span deposits ranges Gordon/Uir phase (900-400 B. C.), which may have been non-Maya, to Coner (A. D. 700-900+), encompasses collapse Classic Maya cultural manifestation valley. Several traditionally recognized mesoamerican cultigens were identified including corn, beans, and several species Cucurbitaceae. In...
Phylogenetic analyses of genes with demonstrated involvement in evolutionary transitions can be an important means resolving conflicting hypotheses about history or process. In sunflower, two have previously been shown to experienced selective sweeps during its early domestication. the present study, we identified a third candidate domestication gene and conducted haplotype all three address recent, controversial hypothesis origin cultivated sunflower. Although scientific consensus had long...
Significance The rise of complex societies and sustainable land use associated with urban centers has been a major focus for anthropologists, geographers, ecologists. Here we present quantitative assessment the agricultural, agroforestry, water management strategies inhabitants prominent ancient Maya city Tikal, how their practices effectively sustained low-density population many centuries. Our findings also reveal, however, that productive landscape surrounding managed to brink its...
Abstract The role of seed crops in the Maya diet is well understood. root ancient has been controversial, with some scholars suggesting they were staples, and others arguing not cultivated at all. Research 1990s found occasional manioc plants kitchen gardens within Classic period Cerén village, leading to interpretation that did contribute diet, but was a staple. Recent research outside village encountered sophisticated raised-bed monocropping over an extensive area. This area harvested...
Abstract Evidence for the oldest known zeolite water purification filtration system occurs in undisturbed sediments of Corriental reservoir at Maya city Tikal, northern Guatemala. The was an important source drinking Tikal during Late Preclassic to Classic cultural periods. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and six AMS radiocarbon ages show that between ~ 2185 965 cal yr B.P. filtered through a mixture coarse, sand-sized crystalline quartz. Zeolite is non-toxic, three-dimensionally porous,...
Abstract Understanding civilizations of the past and how they emerge eventually falter is a primary research focus archaeological investigations because these provocative data sets offer critical insights into long-term human behavior patterns, especially in regard to land use practices sustainable environmental interactions. The ancient Maya serve as an intriguing example this focus, yet details their spectacular emergence tropical forest environment followed by eventual demise have...
Botanical remains found in ceramic vessels and other containers at the Cerén site, El Salvador, provide evidence for how plants were used by Classic-period inhabitants. Because of rapid inundation ash caused eruption Loma Caldera volcano sometime around A. D. 590, conditions preservation plant parts are superior to most Mesoamerican sites. Carbonized remains, or impressions thereof, recovered from include an assortment domesticates, cultigens, wild that describe overall pattern a highly...
Mexico has long been recognized as one of the world's cradles domestication with evidence for squash ( Cucurbita pepo ) cultivation appearing early 8,000 cal B.C. followed by many other plants, such maize Zea mays ), peppers Capsicum annuum common beans Phaseolus vulgaris and cotton Gossypium hirsutum ). We present archaeological, linguistic, ethnographic, ethnohistoric data demonstrating that sunflower Helianthus annuus had entered repertoire Mexican domesticates ca. 2600 B.C., its was...
Abstract Aguadas , either natural or human-made ponds, were significant sources of water for the ancient Maya. are common features in Maya Lowlands and make valuable locations collecting archaeological paleoenvironmental data. This article discusses research conducted at four aguadas around two adjacent sites, San Bartolo Xultun Peten, Guatemala. Both established during Preclassic period. However, fates sites differed, as continued to prosper while city was abandoned near close Late We argue...
ABSTRACT In this chapter we present the major transitions in Maya history from Late Preclassic through Terminal Classic periods Lowlands, focusing first on settlement and subsistence systems, followed by social environmental costs. We particularly focus how built relied increasingly complex water agricultural systems to adapt humid tropics where everything life was rainfall dependent. The seasonality of required innovative strategies contain throughout long dry season face growing population...
Abstract The recovery of pine (Pinus spp.) charcoal remains from ceremonial contexts at sites in the Maya Lowlands suggests that had a significant role ancient ritual activities. Data collected by authors reveal are regular component archaeobotanical assemblages caves, were used almost exclusively for purposes, and is often dominant taxon wood recovered. Comparisons with data surface likewise reveals common deposits. propose appearance indicates was valued element paraphernalia. By basing...
The reasons for the development and collapse of Maya civilization remain controversial historical events carved on stone monuments throughout this region provide a remarkable source data about rise fall these complex polities. Use records depends correlating European calendars so that they can be compared with climate environmental datasets. Correlation constants vary up to 1000 years controversial. We report series high-resolution AMS 14C dates wooden lintel collected from Classic Period...