Friday, May 31, 2013

The Ancient Mayans And Their Unspoiled Rainforest

By Linda Patterson


The Mayan rainforest is second to the Amazon rainforest. It stretches across the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize as well as Northern Guatemala. Currently, it ranks as among the most well known regions for Mayan jungle tours as well as for relaxing and exciting family vacations. It is a haven for diverse plant and animal life. It had provided for the ancient Maya civilization and considered as a natural resources treasure-trove.

The Mayan rainforest was always attractive, untouched and mysterious. After the ancient Mayans came to exist centuries back they must have been encompassed by tall trees establishing an impenetrable cover overhead as well as thick scrub at their feet. However, credit would go to the ancient members of this civilization to have discovered means to make use of the plants and creatures in the most effective way possible as well as adjust to the forest in order to get lots of advantages from it.

Born as gifted healers, they get their power to heal from the nature that surrounds them. The healers use the jungle's natural resources to make remedies. Traditional healing rituals that originated many years ago were passed by their forefathers to the succeeding generations. During the ritual, the blessings from the four natural elements such as fire, earth, air and water are invoked.

The climate in this region is typically pleasant as dry and wet season can be experienced. Given that a rainforest has the vulnerable ecosystem, it really is essential for virtually any society that desires to prosper to become sensitive towards its natural environment. The Mayas give immense importance to their surroundings through protecting it.

Historians were wondering how the Mayas were able to build such enormous cities in their tropical rainforest that has a thin layer of top soil. According to research, the Mayans were able to sustain a huge population for more than a hundred years because of the amazing ways of storing rainwater and good farming methods. The available resources should be properly managed and proper management of resources might have saved their civilization from annihilation.

Among the strategies utilized by the Mayas to provide for their city was constructing a huge water reservoir. Some of these reservoirs were firstly uncovered in the walls of the Uxul Maya city by archaeologists in 2010. Owing to its large area of 100 square meters, they called these reservoirs as monster pools. Also known as 'aguadas', these were built to provide the city dwellers water supply. The bottom of the aguada was found to have been made with ceramic shards and the top covering was composed of limestone, a rock which is plentiful in these areas. Their water lock system has impressed people as sealing the reservoir from all sides locks the water inside securely therefore the water supply for the dry months is guaranteed sufficient.

The world was amazed with its majestic buildings and the quality of their construction. They've utilized the limestone in the rainforests as construction materials which have exhibited their workmanship and that have allowed their buildings to have endured the test of time.

The well known Mayan ceramic art is caused by the supply of clay on the river banks which was first collected after which shaped in order to produce lovely pieces of art.

Seeing what lies in the heart of the Maya tropical jungle and exploring the magnificent ancient Mayan ruins through a guided adventure travel tour offers an experience of a lifetime.




About the Author:



No comments: