NASA: Maya off'd themselves

New research from NASA reveals that the Maya most likely were responsible for their own downfall, according to Archeologist Tom Sever. When times got tough on one of the more successful cultures on Earth, they turned to cutting the forest down for fuel and building. This action caused environmental fluctuations. Their decline also coincided with a massive drought. Its possible the Slash and Burn technique the Maya used caused the drought thus exacerbating the environmental problems. According to Sever, land needs at least 15 years to recuperate from just three years of farming. This was a regeneration rate the Maya could not allow as their growing societies plummetted into famine and revolt. The population average in Maya cities was 200 per square mile, equivalent to modern Los Angeles.

"The cities tried to keep an 18-month supply of water in their reservoirs," says Sever. "For example, in Tikal there was a system of reservoirs that held millions of gallons of water. Without sufficient rain, the reservoirs ran dry." Sever said.

Mass graves of suspected elites suggest political revolt against a top-heavy and ineffective royal system. At the time of the decline, the Maya had cleared huge swaths of land entirely of trees. It took 20 trees to create enough heat for just one square meter of limestone plaster for their temples and buildings. The destruction of trees for construction and to clear space for corn, was the cause of their downfall.

NASA's satelites were able to identify hundreds of previously unknown Maya sites that helped paint a complete picture of the expansive culture.