What is currently known as one of the leading tourist destinations in the Mexican Caribbean once was an area inhabited solely by Mayans. At some points, you can still find ruins of what were the main cities and areas of concentration of their past inhabitants.
The best-known ruins within the Cancun area are El Rey, El Meco, and Yamil Lu’um. Some researchers suggest that the original name of Cancun in pre-hispanic times was Nizuc since in several maps of the time it is marked with similar names (Punta Nizuc, Nizucte, etc.); and it would cover the entire area where these currently ruins are.
There are several theories regarding the disappearance of the Mayan inhabitants of Cancun and other areas of Mexico. The most studied so far are the following:
Prolonged drought
There is evidence that the last Mayans to inhabit the area, had a bone difference compared to other human remains obtained corresponding to another seasons. Researchers suggest that the prolonged drought and fall in the percentage of rainfall above 70% hit the population with famine, possibly caused by deforestation in order to grow corn, a highly consumed food in the region. This produced a weak population, deaths and resulting in the abandonment and later Spanish conquest of the cities. Isotopes of water were studied in order to determine this.
Internal wars
Another factor that is mentioned among the possible reasons of Mayan disappearance is the land dispute between neighboring cities, which produced bloody wars and weakened societies. There is evidence of human remains that could be of ancient warriors, which, judging by the remains, could represent high military power and the use of other human remains as war trophies.
Environmental degradation
It is also commented that changes in agricultural practices resulted in degradation of the ecosystem that sustained Mayan life. Some sources suggest that these changes were done in order to satisfy the city’s elites. In addition, the change of governors led to the abandonment of practices that protected natural resources, such as surrounding jungles, which resulted in more drought.
Changing trade routes
By not being part of the deliberate exchange of resources such as obsidian and being left out of the trade routes, imports disappear and with it a domino effect that seriously hurt the stability of the inhabitants.
Overpopulation
In the absence of birth control, the available resources were coveted and the balance between ecology and society disappeared.
