August
15
/ 2025
A new study using chemical fingerprints trapped in Mexican cave stalagmites has revealed the devastating extent of droughts that contributed to the collapse of the astonishing Classic Maya civilization over 1,000 years ago. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have uncovered evidence of a catastrophic 13-year drought and seven other prolonged dry periods lasting at least three years each, providing the first detailed, season-by-season account of climate conditions during the Terminal Classic period (871-1021 AD) when Maya society experienced massive upheaval. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, represents a breakthrough in understanding one of archaeology's mysteries: what caused the dramatic decline of Maya cities across the Yucatán Peninsula during the 9th and 10th centuries. By analyzing oxygen isotopes
