Researchers have unveiled astonishing findings in a Mexican cave, shedding light on the mysterious disappearance of the Maya civilization.

The Maya civilization, renowned for its scientific advances and monumental constructions, is a fascinating enigma for contemporary archaeologists. A new study published in Science Advances suggests that major climate upheavals may have played a significant role in the decline and eventual end of this ancient civilization.

The geological sample from the Grutas Tzabnah cave, located near Cancun in the Yucatan Peninsula, provides compelling evidence of these droughts and their impact on the Maya civilization. This cave contains natural climate archives in the form of stalagmites and stalactites, one of which is an exceptional millennium-old stalagmite that shows traces of past climate changes.

A team of scientists, including Daniel H. James, conducted detailed climate analyses around 2006 on this millennium-old stalagmite. Their findings reveal a grim picture of the climate conditions during the decline of the Maya civilization. The Yucatan Peninsula, during the period between 871 and 1021, experienced at least 8 severe drought episodes.

The most notable drought lasted 13 consecutive years, a significant disaster for the Maya civilization. This prolonged drought likely had a devastating impact on the Maya civilization, particularly on their maize cultivation. With the inability of authorities in Mayan cities to ensure food security for their populations during this period, the severe droughts and resulting famines weakened the foundations of Mayan society.

Impressive Maya sites can be found deep in the tropical jungle, but the results of the investigation reveal that the inhabitants of these cities likely massively abandoned their ancestral cities to migrate to more temperate territories. The droughts in this period coincide with a halt in the construction of new infrastructure in several major Maya cities, including Chichen Itza.

The gradual disappearance of the Maya civilization continues to fuel scientific debates. However, this new study provides valuable insights into the potential causes of the collapse of this once-great civilization. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the relationship between climate and civilization, a relationship that remains relevant today.