Maya Postclassic persistence in the Birds of Paradise Wetland Fields, Belize

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2026 Open access

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Authors: Lara M. Sánchez-Morales, Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder‐Beach, Samantha Krause, Duncan Cook, Byron Smith, David L. Lentz, Carlos Quiroz, William Pratt, Lori Phillips, Thomas H. Guderjan, Colleen Hanratty
+1 more Fred Valdez
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2521892123
Cited by: 2
References: 49

Abstract

Rapid decay of organic artifacts obscures our view of ancient tropical settlements. We present a study of architecture and artifact assemblages from an ancient settlement excavated at the Birds of Paradise (BOP) fields, the largest lidar and field-validated ancient Maya wetland field complex. The site's unique setting preserved architectural wood and provides exceptional evidence of Maya Terminal Classic (CE 800 to 1000) to Postclassic (CE 1000 to 1500) persistence within tropical wetlands through periods of large-scale societal and climate change. A new Bayesian chronological model tightens the occupation history for the broader BOP wetlands based on 14 new radiocarbon dates of wood and charcoal from this settlement. These wetlands and their preserved ancient wood face imminent destruction through modern land uses.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Amazonian Archaeology and Ethnohistory Archaeology and ancient environmental studies Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Volume
123
Issue
10
Pages
e2521892123–e2521892123
Publication date
2 March 2026
Language
EN