AI Summary

Rainforests in Belize that have largely escaped modern development show subtle changes in their structure, such as canopy height and leaf density, that researchers link to ancient Maya land use. A new study suggests that the Maya’s agricultural and settlement practices thousands of years ago may have left an invisible imprint on the forest’s physical characteristics. The research focused on areas that remained relatively undisturbed by recent human activity, allowing scientists to isolate historical influences. The findings imply that even long‑uninhabited tropical forests can retain ecological signatures of past civilizations.

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