Wetland Fields in the Maya Lowlands: Archaeobotanical Evidence from Birds of Paradise, Belize A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Anthropology of the College of Arts and Sciences 2019 by Martha M. Wendel B.A., University of Cincinnati, 2015 Committee: Susan E. Allen, Ph.D., Chair Sarah E. Jackson, Ph.D. David L. Lentz, Ph.D. Abstract Discoveries of rectangular canal patterns in the margins of wetlands in the ancient Maya lowlands of Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico shed light on a previously unknown agricultural practice: raised wetland fields. One example of wetland fields is found at the site Birds of Paradise (BOP) in the Rio Bravo region of northwestern Belize. For my research project, I have analyzed macrobotanical remains from BOP to: 1) identify the plants that were growing in the canals, 2) identify the plants that were growing in the features identified as raised fields, 3) assess their ecological preferences, 4) assess changing frequencies of different types of plants over time, and 5) provide some insight on how the canals and fields were used. Because this is the first time any systematic macrobotanical analysis has been done at BOP, it makes an important contribution to understanding how the Maya were interacting with their landscape with the use of these features. Additionally, innovative recovery methods such as use of a sonicator and sorting through all geological sieve fractions allowed for more robust quantitative analysis of data. These methods have wide application for use at other sites conducting archaeobotanical research. Acknowledgments There are so many people whom I have to thank for loving me and encouraging me during this incredibly stressful time and have given me so much support to continue in the field of archaeology. First, I would like to thank Dr. Susan Allen, who has given me so many opportunities to explore the field of archaeobotany and whose interest and enthusiasm for what she does continue to inspire me every day. I would be lost without your guidance! Second, I would like to thank Dr. David Lentz who has taught me a lot about Maya paleoethnobotany and provided me with many opportunities for this research project. Third, I would like to thank Dr. Timothy Beach and Dr. Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach for providing me funding and for providing the opportunity to conduct research at Birds of Paradise. I would also like to thank Dr. Sarah Jackson for being on my committee and for teaching most of what I know about the ancient Maya. Thanks to Dr. Alan Sullivan for giving me great advice about life and archaeology and for providing me with the opportunity to explore the Southwest. Additionally, I would like to thank Venicia Slotten for all of her help with collecting flotation samples, assistance with identification, and just listening to me when I needed to vent. Your friendship means so much to me. Thanks to Mariana Vazquez for help with identification of the plants collected from the survey. I would also like to thank the graduate students within my cohort at the University of Cincinnati, especially Emily Phillips and Ashley-Devon Williamston. Thanks to my parents for their support and for trying to understand what I do. Lastly, I would like to thank my partner, Rob Stambaugh, whose love and support gave me the strength I needed to complete one of the largest challenges in my life. Thank you for reading over chapters, listening to my ideas, and supporting my decisions. i Table of Contents Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................................i Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................................ii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................vi Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Methodology ...............................................................................................................14 Chapter 3: Results and Discussion of Collected Taxa ..................................................................25 Chapter 4: Interpretations and Conclusions ..................................................................................61 References Cited ...........................................................................................................................70 Appendix 1....................................................................................................................................78 ii List of Figures Figure 1.1 Map of BOP Wetlands in relation to other Maya sites. Photo from Beach et al. 2009..................................................................................................................................................2 Figure 1.2 SubOp A, Lots 1, 2, and 3 in progress.........................................................................10 Figure 1.3 Northwest baulk of SubOp B Lot 1, Closing...............................................................11 Figure 1.4 Southeast baulk of SubOp B Lot 3, Closing................................................................12 Figure 1.5 SubOp A profile sketch showing stratigraphic layers and location of seeds from AMS dating. Image provided by Samantha Krause................................................................................13 Figure 2.1 View of south baulk of SubOp A canal after column sampling..................................15 Figure 2.2 BOP Field Season 2016 Images: a) Flote-Tech Model A flotation machine at Programme for Belize, b) agitating the heavy fraction soil during the flotation process, c) heavy and light fractions drying after flotation, d) sorting the heavy fraction at Maya Research Program..........................................................................................................................................17 Figure 2.3 VWR Ultrasonic Bath Model 75T ..............................................................................20 Figure 2.4 BOP 10025 sieve fractions after ultrasonic bath.........................................................20 Figure 2.5 Archaeobotanical remains recovered from sorting after ultrasonic bath.....................21 Figure 3.1 Absolute counts of Eleocharis sp., Cladium jamaicense, and Spilanthes cf. acmella and all other identified non-wood seeds in SubOp A Canal and Field..........................................28 Figure 3.2 Absolute counts of Eleocharis sp., Cladium jamaicense, and Spilanthes cf. acmella and all other identified non-wood seeds in SubOp B Canal and Field..........................................29 iii Figure 3.3 Example of an E. prostrata achene found in only two flotation samples...........................................................................................................................................32 Figure 3.4 Example of a Spilanthes cf. acmella achene from BOP..............................................33 Figure 3.5 Example of a Celtis sp. fruit from BOP.......................................................................34 Figure 3.6 Example of a Chenopodium ambrosioides seed from the canal of BOP.....................35 Figure 3.7 Example of a Cayaponia sp. seed from SubOp B.......................................................36 Figure 3.8 Example of a Carex polystachya seed from BOP.......................................................37 Figure 3.9 Example of a Cladium jamaicense seed from BOP....................................................38 Figure 3.10 Example of a Cyperus sp. seed from BOP................................................................39 Figure 3.11 Example of an Eleocharis sp. seed from BOP..........................................................40 Figure 3.12 Example of a Fimbristylis cf. dichotoma achene from BOP Canal...........................41 Figure 3.13 Example of a Scirpus sp. seed from BOP..................................................................42 Figure 3.14 Example of a Physalis sp. seed found in only one sample (BOP 10004) from SubOp B.....................................................................................................................................................43 Figure 3.15 Example of a Solanum sp. seed recovered from BOP...............................................44 Figure 3.16 Example of a Najas guadalupensis seed recovered from BOP.................................45 Figure 3.17 Example of a Juncus sp. seed found in two samples (BOP 10026 and BOP 10027) from SubOp A Canal.....................................................................................................................46 iv Figure 3.18 Example of an Andropogon sp. seed found in only one sample (BOP 10004) from SubOp B Canal..............................................................................................................................47 Figure 3.19 Example of a Panicum sp. seed found in two samples (BOP 10015 and BOP 10017) from SubOp A Field.......................................................................................................................48