4,000-Year-Old Canals for Fishing Uncovered in Belize

Archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of canals in Belize, revealing an early system used to channel and catch freshwater fish like catfish. The findings, published in Science Advances, highlight the ingenuity of Maya predecessors long before the rise of their iconic civilisation.

Using drones and Google Earth imagery, researchers identified zigzagging canals stretching for miles through wetlands in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. The canals, paired with holding ponds, were likely used for fishing, aided by barbed spearpoints found nearby, said co-author Marieka Brouwer Burg of the University of Vermont.

The canals date back to a semi-nomadic period, predating the Maya by millennia, and were in use for about 1,000 years. This early large-scale landscape modification suggests a foundation for the complex society that later built temples, pyramids, and advanced systems of writing and astronomy.

“This shows continuity,” said Jeremy Sabloff, an archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania, explaining how the resourceful strategies of these early communities likely supported the cultural and architectural achievements of the Maya.

These ancient canals not only sustained growing populations but also provided a deeper understanding of the region’s transition from semi-nomadic groups to permanent farming villages, paving the way for the Maya’s rise.