Hunter-gatherers built a massive fish trap in Belize 4000 years ago



Satellite image showing channels that formed part of an ancient fishery, and Mayan sites nearby
Google Earth
Archaeologists have discovered a massive network of ancient fisheries in Belize constructed by hunter-gatherers some 4000 years ago.
The system of earthen channels exceeds 640 kilometres in length and dates to the Archaic Period, which preceded the emergence of Maya civilisation centuries later. It is the oldest large-scale fish-trapping facility ever recorded in Central America.
“We were all expecting it to date to a period of sedentary Maya civilisation,” says Eleanor Harrison-Buck…
You Might Also Like
Human milk could help fight infections that endanger pregnancies
Streptococcus bacteria are responsible for vaginal and urinary tract infections and newborn infectionsCAVALLINI JAMES/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images A...
Solar drone with wingspan wider than jumbo jet could fly for months
The Skydweller droneSkydweller A solar-powered surveillance drone with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet could fly for...
Why Trump’s order targeting ‘woke’ AI may be impossible to follow
US President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order at an AI summit on 23 July 2025 in Washington, DCChip...
Sprinkling limestone on farms may offer an unexpected climate win
Farmers spread lime on pastures to improve the quality of the soilWayne HUTCHINSON/Alamy The centuries-old practice of spreading crushed limestone...