Use Ofaguadasas Water Management Sources in Two Southern Maya Lowland Sites

Aguadas, either natural or human-made ponds, were significant sources of water for the ancient Maya.Aguadasare common features in the Maya Lowlands and make valuable locations for collecting archaeological and paleoenvironmental data. This article discusses research conducted at fouraguadasaround two adjacent Maya sites, San Bartolo and Xultun in Peten, Guatemala. Both San Bartolo and Xultun were established during the Preclassic period. However, the fates of the two sites differed, as Xultun continued to prosper while the city of San Bartolo was abandoned near the close of the Late Preclassic period. We argue thataguadasprovide important clues for understanding the fate of these two ancient communities and many others in the Maya Lowlands.