Scientists have discovered what accelerated the collapse of the Mayan civilization The widespread use of mercury-based red dyes by ancient people led to large-scale environmental pollution in the Yucatan Peninsula, paleochemists from the US, Mexico and the UK, led by Matthew Waters of Auburn University, have found. They examined the bottom sediments of two reservoirs from the Classic Maya period (AD 250–950). High concentrations of metal compounds have accumulated over several centuries, which may adversely affect public health and the natural environment, as well as become one of the reasons for the decline of ancient civilization, writes Progress of Science. Photo: Wikipedia.

Scientists have discovered what accelerated the collapse of the Mayan civilization The widespread use of mercury-based red dyes by ancient people led to large-scale environmental pollution in the Yucatan Peninsula, paleochemists from the US, Mexico and the UK, led by Matthew Waters of Auburn University, have found. They examined the bottom sediments of two reservoirs from the Classic Maya period (AD 250–950). High concentrations of metal compounds have accumulated over several centuries, which may adversely affect public health and the natural environment, as well as become one of the reasons for the decline of ancient civilization, writes Progress of Science. Photo: Wikipedia.