Ancient Agroecology: Maya Village of Joya de Cerén

At the Museum | Farrand Auditorium

The Late Classic Maya village of Joya de Cerén’s extraordinary preservation by the Loma Caldera volcanic eruption around 650 CE allows for a unique opportunity to understand what plant species ancient Mesoamerican commoners utilized in their daily lives whether it was for food consumption, medicinal applications, fuel, or construction purposes.

In this free public lecture presented by the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society, UCSB Department of Anthropology Postdoctoral Scholar Venicia Slotten, Ph.D., will discuss her paleoethnobotanical research at this site in El Salvador. Come learn more about Joya de Cerén's spectacular preservation of earthen-made household structures, gardens, orchards, and extensive outfields growing maize, manioc, and numerous weedy species. The diverse plant assemblage identified from this site shows the wide array of foodstuffs readily accessible to these humble village inhabitants on a daily basis. The long history of archaeological research at Cerén demonstrates that these ancient rural agriculturalists practiced sustainable (i.e. “agroecological”) land management strategies.

No tickets or reservations required, but it is recommended to arrive a little early to ensure a seat. For more information, contact jlemberg@sbnature2.org.

Photos of archaeological work at Joya de Cerén courtesy of Venicia Slotten

Find more events like this