Early Mayan Manioc Field Preserved by Volcano (600 AD)
About 1,400 years ago, the Loma Caldera volcano near the ancient village of Ceren decided it was time to erupt. As a result, the little Mayan village of Ceren was buried under ten feet of ash – and was probably abandoned when the people realized that their mountain was in rather shaky condition.
Fortunately for today’s archaeologists, the ash layer perfectly preserved what was underneath – including a field of a nutritious crop called manioc. Also referred to as yucca or cassava, there had been no previous evidence for Mayan cultivation of manioc… however, this find may finally provide clues as to how the Mayan civilization was able to prosper and feed such a large population.
It has been long known that the Mayans grew and ate corn and beans, but what they grew to supplement this diet has, for the most part, been speculation based on artistic depictions and clues from various Mayan codex scrolls. This calorie-rich tuber would certainly have played a prominent role in ensuring the people ate a healthy and substantial diet – and helped to support their enormous cities such as Copan and Tikal.
Along with finding this ancient but freshly planted field of manioc, ground penetrating radar helped to locate the remains of homes, religious buildings, workshops, storehouses, kitchens, and even a community sauna at Ceren!
Other Central and South American cultures would also later come to rely on manioc as a large component of their diet, including the Pre-Columbia civilization of the Moche.
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