Radiocarbon analysis from 26 excavation sites revealed that the canals were constructed by Late Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers (2000–1900 BCE) and continued to serve their Maya descendants well into the Formative Period (2000 BCE–200 CE).
A fascinating discovery in Belize has revealed an extensive network of canals and ponds that predate the Mayan civilization, transforming our understanding of ancient human ingenuity.
Covering a vast 42 square kilometers, this ancient aquatic engineering marvel may have been designed as a large-scale fishery, capable of sustaining thousands of people long before the advent of intensive agriculture.
Rewriting Mesoamerican History with Cutting-Edge Research
The discovery, led by archaeologist Eleanor Harrison-Buck from the University of New Hampshire, leveraged satellite imagery and aerial surveys to map the canal network within the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (CTWS)—the largest inland wetland in Belize. Radiocarbon analysis from 26 excavation sites revealed that the canals were constructed by Late Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers (2000–1900 BCE) and continued to serve their Maya descendants well into the Formative Period (2000 BCE–200 CE).
“These canals weren’t just infrastructure; they were lifelines,” Harrison-Buck explained. “By redirecting floodwaters into fishponds, these ancient systems sustained year-round fisheries, feeding as many as 15,000 people annually. This challenges the notion that agriculture was the sole driver of early civilizations in Mesoamerica.”
Published in Science Advances, the study revealed groundbreaking insights into ancient wetland use. Sediment analysis from the excavation sites showed no evidence of maize or other crop cultivation during the canals’ earliest periods. Instead, the zigzagging channels appear to have been purpose-built for large-scale fish harvesting, not farming.
Marieka Brouwer Burg, co-director of the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project, emphasized the canals’ broader societal role. “These annual fish harvests likely brought communities together, fostering social ties and creating the conditions necessary for the complex societies that emerged in the region by 1200 BCE,” she said.
Timeless Lessons in Sustainability
The canals also offer a masterclass in sustainability. “These early communities displayed an impressive understanding of ecological balance,” noted Samantha Krause, a geography professor at Texas State University. “By responsibly managing their wetland resources, they ensured these habitats remained viable for centuries. Their methods provide invaluable lessons for modern wetland conservation.”
Buoyed by local support, the team plans to extend their research across northern Belize to uncover even more of these ancient modifications. By studying the interplay between humans and wetlands, researchers hope to unravel the secrets of how these societies not only survived but thrived in challenging environments.
