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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Maya May Have Caused Civilization-Ending Climate Change


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An undated false-color image shows a Guatemalan bajo—a broad seasonal wetland.

A new analysis of satellite images suggests that the ancient Maya used these areas for agriculture, inducing drought that caused the downfall of the civiliation.

This image, taken by the commercial satellite IKONOS, also reveals yellow discolorations in the dense forest canopy—probable sites of ancient Maya buildings.

Photograph by Reuters/NASA