Ancient Mayans are still shaping their environment thousands of years later

To help save a critically peril cardinal American species of river turtle , conservationist examined the gene pools of three extremely isolated populations . What they discovered is a surprising legacy of the ancient Mayan culture .

Smithsonian scientists examined 238 savage turtles , each of which came from one of 15 locating in three separate river drainage basin . These three habitats are entirely and utterly secern from each other , not just by farseeing distances but by Brobdingnagian mountain kitchen range that would be totally impossible for the turtles to cross . Under those fate , one would assume the turtles would also be isolate from each other genetically .

Instead , the researchers retrieve that the populations were all scramble together , making it a virtual sure thing that they had been in tightlipped contact repeatedly in the relatively late past . And the only way that could happen is if humans are the ones doing the mixing and matching . We know that these turtle were used by the Mayans for food , craft , and religious purposes for many centuries , and these polo-neck were moved around substantially until they were ready to be used .

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In their newspaper , the scientist explicate just how far back this turtleneck meddling goes :

“ For centuries , this species has been part of the diet of the Mayans and other autochthonic masses who live in its historic distribution range . [ The river polo-neck ] was a very crucial source of creature protein for the ancient Mayans of the Peten ( Preclassic geological period 800 - 400 B.C.) … And it is potential that these turtle were part of the diet of the Olmec culture more than 3,000 age ago . ”

The genetic data already reveal how crucial world were in shaping the future of these turtles , and examining archaeological site reveals how authoritative the turtleneck were to humans . The remains of one peculiar river turtle were found in the pre - Mayan city - body politic of Teotihuacan , a site some 186 miles from its known range . Another site boast a carving of a turtle that was only found 217 miles away .

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