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Mexican cave stalagmites reveal the deadly droughts behind the Maya collapse


Chemical evidence from a stalagmite in Mexico has revealed that the Classic Maya civilization’s decline coincided with repeated severe wet-season droughts, including one that lasted 13 years. These prolonged droughts corresponded with halted monument construction and political disruption at key Maya sites, suggesting that climate stress played a major role in the collapse. The findings demonstrate how stalagmites offer unmatched precision for linking environmental change to historical events.

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Stalagmites in Mexican caves reveal duration and severity of drought during the Maya collapse

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Severe droughts, one lasting 13 years, crippled Maya 1,000 years ago, new study finds. An analysis of a stalagmite within a Mexican cave reveals detailed evidence of drought that contributed to the downfall of the Maya civilization in the area 1,000 years ago.

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Stalagmites in Mexican caves reveal duration and severity of drought during the Maya collapse - EurekAlert!