Friday, February 10 @ 12 Noon, in-person at Hale Sciences, Room 450 and via Zoom
Dr. Carlos Cordova, Professor of Geography & Geo-Archaeology,
Oklahoma St. University
Recent archaeological and geoarchaeological research on the
eastern part of former Lake Texcoco reveals interesting aspects of human
adaptation to a highly changing lacustrine environment and the eventual control
of its hydrology. The highlights of this research can be summarized as follows:
1) The lakes of the Basin of Mexico fluctuated seasonally, annually, and
through long periods of time. This made the lakes extremely difficult to
control, particularly the largest of them, Lake Texcoco. 2) Understanding of
the dynamics of fluvial and palustrine environments on the edges of the lake
are critical to understand lacustrine change over time. 3) A strong
interconnected socio-ecological dynamics developed between lacustrine, fluvial,
and mountain communities, permitting the use of niches and exchange of products.
4) Attempts to inhabit the lake and control it precede the better known
development of hydraulic infrastructure of the late Aztec period (1325-1519).
5) Research on the eastern part of Lake Texcoco, or the kingdom of Acolhuacan,
is vital for understanding the design and development of hydraulic
infrastructure that supported the great aquatic urban center of Tenochtitlan.
