Stable carbon isotope signatures of ancient Maize agriculture at El Kinel, Guatemala

Central European Geology

Volumn 56, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 59-74

  Balzotti, Chris ^a   Golden, Charles ^b   Scherer, Andrew ^c   Terry, Richard ^a  

^a BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^c BROWN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

C_{3< sub> and C4< sub> Plants; Humin; Maya archaeology; Phosphorus; Rhizodeposition}

Indexed keywords

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE; CARBON ISOTOPE; CONCENTRATION (COMPOSITION); CULTIVATION; GROWTH RESPONSE; ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION; MAIZE; PHOSPHORUS; SOIL ORGANIC MATTER; STABLE ISOTOPE; VEGETATION COVER; VEGETATION HISTORY;

GUATEMALA [CENTRAL AMERICA];

ZEA MAYS;

EID: 84886664005     PISSN: 17882281     EISSN: 17893348     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1556/CEuGeol.56.2013.1.5     Document Type: Article

References (52)

1. Agren, G.I., E. Bosatta, J. Balesdent 1996: Isotope discrimination during decomposition of organic matter: A theoretical analysis. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 60, pp. 1121-1126.
2. Aina, P.O., H.O. Fapohunda 1986: Root distribution and water-uptake patterns of maize cultivars field-grown under differential irrigation. Plant and Soil, 94/2, pp. 257-265.
3. Amos, B., D.T. Walters 2006: Maize root biomass and net rhizo-deposited carbon: an analysis of the literature. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, pp. 1489-1503. (Pubitemid 44373277)
4. Balesdent, J., A. Mariotti 1987: Natural 13C abundance as a tracer for studies of soil organic matter dynamics. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 19, pp. 25-30.
5. Balesdent, J., G.H. Wagner, A. Mariotti 1988: Soil organic matter turnover in long-term field experiments as revealed by carbon-13 natural abundance. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 52, pp. 118-124.
6. Balesdent, J., M. Balabane 1996: Major contribution of roots to soil carbon storage inferred from maize cultivated soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 28, pp. 1261-1263. (Pubitemid 27088480)
7. Balzotti, C.S., D. Webster, T. Murtha, S.L. Petersen, R.L. Burnett, R.E. Terry 2013: Modeling the ancient maize agriculture potential of landforms in Tikal National Park. Guatemala International Journal of Remote Sensing 34/16, pp. 5868-5891.
8. Beach, T., S. Luzzadder-Beach, N. Dunning, D. Cook 2008: Human and natural impacts on fluvial and karst depressions of the Maya Lowlands. Geomorphology, 101/1-2, pp. 308-331.
9. Bender, M.M. 1968: Mass spectrometric studies of carbon-13 variations in corn and other grasses. Radiocarbon, 10, pp. 468-472.
10. Bolinder, M.A., D.A. Angers, M. Giroux, M.R. Laverdiere 1999: Estimating C inputs retained as soil organic matter from corn (Zea mays L.). Plant and Soil, 215, pp. 85-91.
11. Boutton, T. 1996: Stable carbon isotope ratios of soil organic matter and their uses as indicators of vegetation and climate change. In: Boutton, T.W., S. Yamasaki (Eds): Mass Spectrometry of Soils, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, pp. 47-82.
12. Brodie, C.R., M.J. Leng, J.S.L. Casford, C.P. Kendrick, J.M. Lloyd, Y.Q. Zong, M.I. Bird 2011: Evidence for bias in C and N concentrations and delta C-13 composition of terrestrial and aquatic organic materials due to pre-analysis acid preparation methods. Chemical Geology, 282/3-4, pp. 67-83.
13. Burnett, R.L., R.E. Terry, M. Alvarez, C. Balzotti, T. Murtha, D. Webster, J. Silverstein 2012a: The ancient agricultural landscape of the satellite settlement of Ramonal near Tikal, Guatemala. Quarternary International, 265, pp. 101-115.
14. Burnett, R.L., R.E. Terry, R.V. Sweetwood, T. Murtha, D. Webster, J. Silverstein 2012b: Upland and lowland soil resources of the ancient Maya at Tikal, Guatemala. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 76/6, pp. 2083-2096.
15. Cerling, T.E., J.M. Harris, B.J. MacFadden, M.G. Leakey, J. Quade, V. Eisenmann, J.R. Ehleringer 1997: Global vegetation change through the Miocene/Pliocene boundary. Nature 389/6647, pp. 153-158. (Pubitemid 27400591)
16. Crozier, C.R., L.D. King 1993: Corn root dry-matter and nitrogen distribution as determined by sampling multiple soil cores around individual plants. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 24/11-12, pp. 1127-1138.
17. Dwyer, L.M., B.L. Ma, D.W. Stewart, H.N. Hayhoe, D. Balchin, J.L.B. Culley, M. McGovern 1996: Root mass distribution under conventional and conservation tillage. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 76/1, pp. 23-28.
18. Entwistle, J.A., R.A. Dodgshon, P.W. Abrahams 2000: An investigation of former land-use activty through the physical and chemical analysis of soils from the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Archaeological Prospection, 7, pp. 171-188.
19. Evans, D.l., T.g. Farr, J.P. Thompson, C.L. Werner 1986: Multipolarization Radar Images for Geologic Mapping and Vegetation Discrimination. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 24/2, pp. 246-257. (Pubitemid 16575614)
20. Farquhar, G.D., J.R. Ehleringer, K.T. Hubick 1989a: Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, 40, pp. 503-537.
21. Farquhar, G.D., K.T. Hubick, A.G. Condon, R.A. Richards 1989b: Carbon isotope fractionation and plant water-use efficiency. In: Rundel, P.W., J. R. Ehleringer, K.A. Nagy (Eds): Stable Isotopes in Ecological Research, Springer Verlag, New York, pp. 21-40.
22. Farquhar, G.D., M.H. OâLeary, J.A. Berry 1982: On the relationship between carbon isotope discrimination and the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration in leaves. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 9, pp. 121-137. (Pubitemid 13280643)
23. Farr, T.G., P.A. Rosen, E. Caro1, R. Crippen, R. Duren, S. Hensley, M. Kobrick, M. Paller, E. Rodriguez, L. Roth, D. Seal, S. Shaffer, J. Shimada, J. Umland, M. Werner, M.l Oskin, D. Burbank, D. Alsdorf 2007: The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Reviews of Geophysics, 45/2, DOI: 10.1029/2005RG000183 (Pubitemid 47323999)
24. Fernandez, F.G., K.D. Johnson, R.E. Terry, S. Nelson, D. Webster 2005: Soil resources of the ancient Maya at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 69, pp. 2020-2032. (Pubitemid 41572594)
25. Folan, W.J., L.A. Fletcher, E.R. Kintz 1979: Fruit, fiber, bark and resin: social organization of a Maya urban center. Science, 204, pp. 697-701. (Pubitemid 10266505)
26. Gee, G.W., J.W. Bauder 1986: Particle-size analysis. In: Klute, A. (Ed.): Methods of soil analysis. Part 1, 2nd ed. vol. 9. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp. 383-411.
27. Golden, C., A.K. Scherer 2006: Border problems: Recent archaeological research along the Usumacinta River. The PARI Journal 7, pp. 1-16.
28. Golden, C., A.K. Scherer, A.R. Munoz, R. Vasquez 2008: Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan: divergent political trajectories in adjacent Maya polities. Latin American Antiquity, 19/3, pp. 249-274.
29. Holliday, V.T,. W.G. Gartner 2007: Methods of soil P analysis in archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science, 34, pp. 301-333. (Pubitemid 44597279)
30. Houston, S., H. Escobedo, C. Golden, A.K. Scherer, R. Vasquez, A.L. Arroyave, F. Quiroa, J.C. Melendez 2006: La Technica and El Kinel: Mounds and a monument upriver from Yaxchilan. Mexicon 28, pp. 87-93.
31. Johnson, K.D., R.E. Terry, M.W. Jackson, C. Golden 2007: Ancient soil resources of the Usumacinta River Region, Guatemala. Journal of Archaeological Science 34, pp. 1117-1129. (Pubitemid 46464466)
32. Kuzyakov, Y., G. Domanski 2000: Carbon input by plants into the soil. Review. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science-Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde 163, pp. 421-431.
33. Lane, C.S., S.P. Horn, C.I. Mora 2004: Stable carbon isotope ratios in lake and swamp sediments as a proxy for prehistoric forest clearance and crop cultivation in the Neotropics. Journal of Paleolimnology, 32, pp. 375-381. (Pubitemid 40134291)
34. Liu, R., C.E. Clapp, H.H. Cheng 1997: Usefulness of the carbon-13 tracer technique for characterizing terrestrial carbon pools. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 49, pp. 261-266. (Pubitemid 127714253)
35. Lapez, C.M., L.F. Nanez, P. Morales, E. Cienfuego, F. Otero 2011: Diet and health at Chinikiha, Chiapas, Mexico: some preliminary results. Environmental Archaeology, 16/2, pp. 82-96.
36. Marschner, H. 1995: Mineral nutrition of higher plants. 2nd ed. Academic Press, London.
37. Molina, J.A.E., C.E. Clapp, D.R. Linden, R.R. Allmaras, M.F. Layese, R.H. Dowdy, H.H. Cheng 2001: Modeling the incorporation of corn (Zea mays L.) carbon from roots and rhizodeposition into soil organic matter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 33, pp. 83-92. (Pubitemid 32062504)
38. POrez Robles, G., A.L. Arroyave 2006: Excavaciones en El Kinel, Grupo Sur: Operacĩn. In: Proyecto Regional Arqueologico Sierra del Lacandon, 2006, Informe de la Cuarta Temporada de Campo, edited by C. Golden, A. K. Scherer and R. Vasquez, Instituto de Antropologia e Historia, Guatemala, pp. 40-61.
39. Puleston, D.E. 1982: The role of ram an n in Maya subsistance. In: Flannery, K.V. (Maya Subsistence: Studies in Memory of Dennis E. Puleston. Academic Press Inc., New York, pp. 353-366.
40. Quiroa, F., F. Maraa, A.L. Arroyave 2006: Excavaciones en La TOcnica. In Proyecto Regional Arqueologico Sierra del Lacandon, 2006, Informe de la Cuarta Temporada de Campo, edited by C. Golden, A. K. Scherer and R. Vasquez. Instituto de Antropologia e Historia, Guatemala, pp. 15-25.
41. Scherer, A.K., L.E. Wright, C.J. Yoder 2007: Bioarchaeological evidence for social and temporal differences in diet at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Latin American Antiquity, 18/1, pp. 85-104.
42. Scherer, A.K., C. Golden 2009: Tecolote, Guatemala: Archaeological evidence for a fortified late classic Maya political border. Journal of Field Archaeology, 34/3, pp. 285-305.
43. Smith, B.N., S. Epstein 1971: Two categories of 13C/12C ratios for higher plants. Plant Physiology, 47, pp. 380-384.
44. Terry, R.E., P.J. Hardin, S.D. Houston, M.W. Jackson, S.D. Nelson, J. Carr, J. Parnell 2000: Quantitative phosphorus measurement: A field test procedure for archaeological site analysis at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, 15, pp. 151-166.
45. Terry, R.E., F.G. FernAndez, J.J. Parnell, T. Inomata 2004: The story in the floors: chemical signatures of ancient and modern Maya activities at Aguateca, Guatemala. Journal of Archaeological Science 31, pp. 1237-1250. (Pubitemid 38830850)
46. Tykot, R.H. 2002: Contribution of stable isotope analysis to understanding dietary variation among the Maya. In: Jakes, K.A. (Ed.): Archaeological Chemistry: Materials, Methods, and Meaning. ACS Symposium Series. vol. 831, pp. 15-25.
47. Vitorello, V.A., C.C. Cerri, F. Andreux, C. Feller, R.L. Victoria 1989: Organic matter and natural carbon-13 distribution in forested and cultivated Oxisols. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 53/3, pp. 773-778. (Pubitemid 20397876)
48. Webb, E., H. Schwarcz, C.T. Jensen, R.E. Terry, M.D. Moriarty, K.F. Emery 2007: Stable carbon isotopes signature of ancient maize agriculture in the soils of Motul de San JosO, Guatemala. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal 22, pp. 291-312.
49. Webb, E.A., H.P. Schwarcz, P.F. Healy 2004: Carbon isotope evidence for ancient maize agriculture in the Maya lowlands. Journal of Archaeological Science, 31, pp. 1039-1052. (Pubitemid 38809742)
50. Wilken, G.C. 1971: Food-producing systems available to the ancient Maya. American Antiquity, 36, pp. 432-448.
51. Wright, D.R., R.E. Terry, M. Eberl 2009: Soil properties and stable carbon isotope analysis of landscape features in the Petexbatan region of Guatemala. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, pp. 24, 466-491.
52. Wright, L.E., C.D. White 1996: Human biology in the classic Maya collapse: Evidence from paleopathology and paleodiet. Journal of World Prehistory 10, pp. 147-198.