Researchers from the University of California propose that Mayapan served as the cultural and political heart of the Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, with roots tracing back to the early centuries. The study suggests that a severe drought played a decisive role in sparking social upheaval and eventual political breakdown over time. The findings point to a long arc where climate stress amplified underlying rivalries and reshaped Maya communities across generations.
According to the researchers, the drought heightened tensions between competing groups, triggering civil conflict that fragmented large settlements into smaller, more resilient nodes. This fragmentation allowed Maya political and economic networks to persist well into the era just before European contact in the early 16th century.
The team examined a wide range of historical records and human remains to identify signs of traumatic injury that align with civil violence. The evidence connects periods of drought with heightened social strain and collective resistance, offering a plausible narrative for how Maya society adapted under ecological stress.
In a separate line of inquiry, scientists previously reported impressions of ancient tree tops dating to the Carboniferous period. This discovery adds depth to the record of long term ecological change and helps illuminate how past environments shaped human history over deep time.