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Monumental architecture at Aguada Fénix and the rise of Maya civilization

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Listed:
  • Takeshi Inomata

    (University of Arizona)

  • Daniela Triadan

    (University of Arizona)

  • Verónica A. Vázquez López

    (University of Calgary)

  • Juan Carlos Fernandez-Diaz

    (University of Houston)

  • Takayuki Omori

    (University Museum, University of Tokyo)

  • María Belén Méndez Bauer

    (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Melina García Hernández

    (Middle Usumacinta Archaeological Project)

  • Timothy Beach

    (University of Texas)

  • Clarissa Cagnato

    (UMR 8096, Archéologie des Amériques)

  • Kazuo Aoyama

    (Ibaraki University)

  • Hiroo Nasu

    (Okayama University of Science)

Abstract

Archaeologists have traditionally thought that the development of Maya civilization was gradual, assuming that small villages began to emerge during the Middle Preclassic period (1000–350 bc; dates are calibrated throughout) along with the use of ceramics and the adoption of sedentism1. Recent finds of early ceremonial complexes are beginning to challenge this model. Here we describe an airborne lidar survey and excavations of the previously unknown site of Aguada Fénix (Tabasco, Mexico) with an artificial plateau, which measures 1,400 m in length and 10 to 15 m in height and has 9 causeways radiating out from it. We dated this construction to between 1000 and 800 bc using a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. To our knowledge, this is the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region. Although the site exhibits some similarities to the earlier Olmec centre of San Lorenzo, the community of Aguada Fénix probably did not have marked social inequality comparable to that of San Lorenzo. Aguada Fénix and other ceremonial complexes of the same period suggest the importance of communal work in the initial development of Maya civilization.

Suggested Citation

  • Takeshi Inomata & Daniela Triadan & Verónica A. Vázquez López & Juan Carlos Fernandez-Diaz & Takayuki Omori & María Belén Méndez Bauer & Melina García Hernández & Timothy Beach & Clarissa Cagnato & Ka, 2020. "Monumental architecture at Aguada Fénix and the rise of Maya civilization," Nature, Nature, vol. 582(7813), pages 530-533, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:582:y:2020:i:7813:d:10.1038_s41586-020-2343-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2343-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Douglas J. Kennett & Marilyn Masson & Carlos Peraza Lope & Stanley Serafin & Richard J. George & Tom C. Spencer & Julie A. Hoggarth & Brendan J. Culleton & Thomas K. Harper & Keith M. Prufer & Susan M, 2022. "Drought-Induced Civil Conflict Among the Ancient Maya," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Camille Lesage & Alvise Barbieri & Jovan Galfi & Dragan Jovanović & Vera Bogosavljević Petrović, 2022. "The Becoming of a Prehistoric Landscape: Palaeolithic Occupations and Geomorphological Processes at Lojanik (Serbia)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Luca Piroddi & Massimo Rassu, 2023. "Application of GPR Prospection to Unveil Historical Stratification inside Monumental Buildings: The Case of San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes in Santu Lussurgiu, Sardinia, Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.

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