Dynamiques croisées des milieux et des sociétés dans les basses terres tropicales mayas : hydrosystème et agrosystème à Naachtun (Guatemala)

Managing resources in inter-tropical environment has always been a critical issue for the rise and prosperity of complex societies. The socio-ecological system of Naachtun, a large Classic Period Maya city (AD 250-950), lies at the heart of this issue. It will be studied here in the perspective of understanding water and soil variability, which is under climate, environmental and anthropogenic controls. Both the hydrosystem and the agrosystem will be characterized through a systemic and multi-scalar approach, allowing for the study of the evolution, the uses and the management of these resources under the influence of climate and population dynamics. Occupied for nearly one millennia (AD 150-950/1000), the city of Naachtun expanded next to a large humid area (bajo), which clearly played a central role in its creation and development, both for water uses and for its agricultural potential.