WQXR's Artist Propulsion Lab talks to UC biologist

Paleobotanist David Lentz studies ancient cultures in Mesoamerica

WQXR's Artist Propulsion Lab spoke with a University of Cincinnati biology professor about the environmental lessons we can learn from the ancient Maya.

UC College of Arts and Sciences paleobotanist David Lentz and his UC collaborators study ancient cultures in Mesoamerica. They have studied the ancient Maya and their use of natural resources over the centuries more than 2,000 years ago.

A temple at Tikal rises above the rainforest.

A pyramid rises above the rainforest at the ancient Maya city of Tikal. Photo/David Lentz

Lentz told WQXR that the ancient Maya initially used slash-and-burn agriculture. But over time and as their population increased, these farming methods created problems such as erosion that the ancient Maya had to address.

"They developed more sustainable agriculture and agri-forestry techniques to control erosion and intensify food production," Lentz said.

"They protected forest tracts to maintain major amounts of tree cover and conserve habitat," Lentz said.

These forests contained important medicinal plants and sources of timber, he said.

Joining Lentz on the program are composer Layale Chaker and pianist Fabian Alamazan for a discussion on music and environmental stewardship.

Lentz told WQXR that the ancient Maya protected sacred groves and planted parks around their reservoirs in some cities. But they also converted some tropical rainforest to pine savanna through continual use of slash-and-burn methods.

But Lentz said these rainforests recovered over time, giving him hope for deforested rainforests around the world today.

"There is some hope that even though some of that land in Amazonia has been degraded, if we can leave it alone long enough, these forests will return," Lentz said.

Listen to the WQXR story.

Featured image at top: UC biology professor David Lentz poses at the ancient Maya city of Tikal. Photo/Provided

Three researchers work with equipment in a rainforest.

UC researchers Nicholas Dunning, Vernon Scarborough and David Lentz take sediment samples at the ancient Maya city of Tikal. Photo/Liwy Grazioso Sierra

UC studies ancient Mesoamerica

Three researchers pose for a group photo in a rainforest.

UC researchers Vernon Scarborough, David Lentz and Nicholas Dunning have collaborated on numerous studies of ancient cultures in Mesoamerica. Photo/Provided