Why Mayans disappeared: Scientists finally crack the mystery of the ancient civilisation's collapse

They were not the first or the oldest American civilisation, yet the Mayans are remembered more than any other civilisation in America and across the world. What makes the Mayans worth all the attention is the great achievements they were able to score during their period, ones whose benefits humans reap to this day.

But as quick was their rise, quicker was their plight. According to National Geographic, the Maya people were a huge Mesoamerican civilisation, making up most of Central America, including Mexico. They were the ones who built the first cities, developed standing food cultures and even participated in performative rituals.

While their descendants can be found across Central America today, the Maya abandoned the cities they called home in the 8th or 9th centuries. The urbanised areas of the Yucatan Peninsula, such as Tikal, transformed from bustling cities to ruins in over 100 years and no one knows why! Now, it seems scientists have finally solved this longstanding mystery.

Where did the Mayans vanish?

As is the case with inexplicable events, the more people don't know, the more theories they make. In the case of the Mayans, some believe a pandemic or war wiped them out, while others think supernatural powers were at play.

The reality on the other hand is more practical yet sinister...

In his 2005 book Collapse, American geographer, historian and ornithologist Jared Diamond argued that a prolonged drought, exacerbated by deforestation led the society to collapse. To test the hypothesis, experts combined archaeological evidence and environmental data and in 2012, results confirmed that the secret behind the wiping out of the entire culture was a self-created environmental disaster.

How did the Mayans vanish?

A 2012 study published in PNAS, found that the people of the civilisation cleared out large forest lands for agriculture and fuel production, which reduced the land's capacity to absorb solar radiation.

Another study, published by researchers from Columbia University made use of the cities' huge population numbers and measurements of cleared land to run simulations on how this would have led to a drought, failed crops, lack of trade and wealth and thus ultimately forced Mayans to abandon their homes to find food.

B.J. Turner, the lead author of the 2012 study claimed that Maya people knew how to survive in their environment and continued deforestation until their society was completely destroyed.

Robert Oglesby, Climate modeller at the University of Nebraska, who worked on the second study made a similar comment on interfering with the environment. He compared it to the severe deforestation taking place in Guatemala, adding that the country 'may be that much more vulnerable to a severe drought'.

Who were the Mayans?

The Maya developed their civilisation around 2000BC. Their society comprised of hundreds of cities, classes like the middle class, nobles, kings and commoners.

Warfare, trade, art and architecture were important pillars of the civilisation. The Maya are prided for having come up with the most well-developed system of writing, dating back to 300BC. They are known for their pyramid-like temples, rituals, foods like maize and chocolate, and for developing the concept of zero. They even had a sports game called Pitz.

While some northern cities continued to flourish, the majority of Mayan centres collapsed and death rose. And now, we know why.

It seems that the way we are letting go of forest lands and replacing them with cement cities, the plight of the Mayans serves as a warning of the future that could be ours very soon.