By Ashley Landesman, Emma Latham, Jackie Lin, Alexandra Mairone, Jinal Patel, Sophia Rowland, Kellie Swadba, Sophia Wu Advisor: Dr. Masucci Assistant: Tim McEvoy The Disappearance of the Ancient Guangalans

The Guangalans 200 BC--AD 600 Western Coast of Ecuador (modern day El Azucar) Thriving agricultural community

After 800 years of prosperous farming, expansion, and a thriving civilization, the Guangalans disappeared. Why did a civilization which had thrived for 800 years collapse? What happened?

The Guangalans over-farmed the land, causing deforestation, forcing them to abandon the land for survival. Hypothesis

El Azucar

Julio Moreno Dry Tropical Forest Reserve

How to test the hypothesis? Charcoal Firewood Available Wood in Forest Relationship with Environment

Two Tools: 1.Dissecting Microscope 2.Scanning Electron Microscope Methods Two Tasks: 1.Create charcoal reference library 2.Identify archaeological samples Scanning Electron Microscope Barbasco Dissecting Microscope Photo

Collecting Type Samples

Barbasco Cascol Ebano Guasango Licuanco Sapote Keystone Species There was dry tropical forest!

Charcoal analysis is a really new method Had to make our own pictures of our type samples 12 type species in total: Creating Reference Library Barbasco Cascol Ebano Guasango Licuanco Sapote Algarrobo Guachapeli Blanco Guayacan Mata Sarna Morocho Mullullu Cascol Tree

What are we comparing? Guachapeli Blanco Dissecting Microscope Photo (Above) Mata Sarna Scanning Electron Microscope Photo (Below) Rays Annual Rings Pores or Resin Canals Compactness of Cells Cell Size Other Distinct Features

Categorizing Archaeological Samples

Our Findings From Oldest To Most Recent

El Azucar Sites Guangalan Period

210 BC - AD 90 Barbasco Type Sample Archaeological Sample

AD Archaeological Sample Mata Sarna Type Sample

AD Archaeological Sample Ebano Type Sample

AD Archaeological Sample Cascol Type Sample

AD Sapote Type Sample Archaeological Sample 100X

Coastal Sites Post-Guangalan Period

AD Archaeological SampleAlgarrobo Type Sample

In Summary Time PeriodSpecies Found AD Algarrobo (5) AD Sapote (2) AD Cascol AD Ebano AD Mata Sarna 210 BC - AD 90Barbasco Oldest Most Recent

What does this mean? 1.There was dry tropical forest during the time of the Guangalans 2.It is not evident that the Guangalans destroyed their environment 3.Algarrobo found in coastal sites suggests deforestation in the area after the Guangalans, but further research is necessary. 4.Charcoal analysis works!

Assumptions made Inconsistencies in results Lack of optimal samples Time consuming Time constraint Issues

The goals of this project were to: Identify wood charcoal used by the Ancient Guangalans Test the effectiveness of this method in archaeological research. Given more time, a larger sample size may be analyzed to properly represent the resource use of the Guangalans. Conclusion

At the conclusion of this study, several unresolved questions remain. Why exactly did the Guangalan civilization disappear? What was the cause of the hypothesized climate change indicated by the presence of Algarrobo in later levels? Conclusions Continued

Thank you Dr. Masucci for all your help in leading us through this research project and teaching us about what you're passionate for. Thank you Tim McEvoy for keeping us focused and working hard and for buying us many meals. Thank you Dr. Miyamoto for helping prepare our SEM specimens and for running this program. Thank you John and Laura Overdeck and the other sponsors for your gracious contributions to keeping this program active. Acknowledgements