Doris Z. Stone New World Archaeology Lectures

How do we understand human negotiations of variable ecologies from the perspective of deep time, and identify historical shifts in these dynamics? How does such research help us to understand societal “collapse” as it has been framed by so many scholars (often outside of historical ecology and archaeology)? What cautionary tales or routes to innovation can we draw from these understandings? In this talk I address recent studies in Mesoamerica on ancient agriculture, as well as resilient features of human practice in negotiating tropical landscapes. I focus on several areas where I have carried out archaeological research in Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras, with an emphasis on the analysis of plant residues. Broadly, I consider: How can we negotiate productivity and sustainability (through many cultural and natural definitions)? What alternate farming solutions can we offer, based in archaeological research and understandings of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)? In this talk, I address contemporary issues in Mesoamerica, from the home garden, to the milpa, to the forest. What new agricultural strategies in tropical Mesoamerica have been inspired- – or discouraged– by ancient practices? What additional strategies might we consider in an era of radical environmental change?