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The social impact of anthropogenic landscape modification in the Río Verde drainage basin, Oaxaca, Mexico

1992; Wiley; Volume: 7; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/gea.3340070602

1520-6548

Arthur A. Joyce, Raymond Mueller,

Archaeology and Natural History

Abstract This article examines the effects of anthropogenic landscape modification in the upper drainage basin of the Río Verde on environments and populations of the lower Río Verde Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico. Archaeological and geomorphological research conducted by the Río Verde Formative Project indicates that Late Formative (400–100 B.C.) population growth and agricultural intensification in the Oaxaca and Nochixtlán valleys increased erosion and runoff from the Verde's upper drainage. This geomorphic change in the highland valleys altered the drainage system and led to increased flooding and alluviation in the lower Río Verde Valley. The environmental effect in the lower valley may have increased the agricultural potential of the region, leading to population growth, and at least indirectly to social change.