Ancient Fisheries Discovered in Belize Reveal Hunter-Gatherer Innovation
Satellite image showing channels that formed part of an ancient fishery, and Mayan sites nearby
Google Earth
Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in Belize, uncovering a sophisticated network of ancient fisheries believed to have been constructed by hunter-gatherers approximately 4000 years ago.
The expansive system of earthen channels spans over 640 kilometers in length and dates back to the Archaic Period, which predates the rise of the Maya civilization by centuries. This finding represents the oldest known large-scale fish-trapping facility in Central America.
Lead archaeologist, Eleanor Harrison-Buck, expressed surprise at the dating of the site, stating, “We were all expecting it to date to a period of sedentary Maya civilization.” The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the capabilities and innovations of pre-Maya societies in the region.
