An early shift from wetland-adjacent to upland farming in the Maya lowlands

We generated multiproxy isotopic, microbotanical, and paleoecological evidence from southern Belize that demonstrates a shift from extensive wetland-adjacent C4 plant cultivation by 6000 BP to upland C4 plant cultivation away from wetlands by 3500 BP, when early maize is being intensively cultivated. We link these processes to early land clearing, niche construction, and population growth following a dry interval as people reassessed risk in response to climate uncertainties. A subsequent steep decline in wetland-adjacent farming after 4000 BP corresponds with the establishment of upland farming settlements. Specific datasets are: S1 RB14-02: Rio Blanco chronology, fractionation corrected δ13C values for soil organic matter, and charcoal morphotype data; (b) S2 AC12-B: Agua Caliente chronology, pollens, and charcoal morphotypes; (c) S3 UXB AG12: Uxbenká chronology and isotopes; (d) S4 cKDE data: Model output for Composite Kernel Density Estimate; and (e) S5 14C data: New radiocarbon dates reported in this paper.