New evidence from Belize's famous underwater cave called the "Blue Hole" suggests the Mayan civilization might have been wiped out by extreme droughts.

Speculations about the reason for the demise of the Mesoamerican civilization have ranged from war to famine and disease. Now, researchers claim they've found the answer entombed in the Mayan heartland.

Like Us on Facebook

A team of researchers led by Andre Droxler, professor of Earth Science at the Rice University in Houston, explored the Blue Hole off the coast of Belize and a nearby lagoon to obtain rock and sediment samples from the era of the Mayan Empire's decline.

They analyzed the chemical compositions of samples by measuring the ratio of titanium to aluminum. Relatively low ratios of titanium to aluminum match with periods of less rainfall, researchers said.

The study led to the conclusion that between 800 A.D. and 1,000 A.D., the period when Mayan civilization disintegrated, fewer tropical cyclones and extreme droughts occurred. 

"When you have major droughts, you start to get famine and unrest," Droxler said.     

The consequences of a water crisis may have caused the Mayans to farm on difficult soil and live in a combative culture.

By 900 A.D., all of the Mayan cities were deserted. The drought might have caused dirty water to spread diseases, dry weather to destroy crops and rival groups to fight each other for resources.

After that, the Mayans moved north and built sites like the Chichen Itza in Mexico. Chichen Itza thrived for about a hundred years after 1,000 A.D.

Then, the new research shows a second period of droughts drained the region, at the same time Chichen Itza also quickly declined.

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports. It supports prior studies about dry periods as the culprit for the demise of the Mayan civilization. 

TagsBlue Hole, mayan civilization, Belize Great Blue Hole