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PET KOTS
According to the Maya Dictionary of Barrera-Vázquez (1980) the meaning of “pet” is round or circular, of “kot” a wall of loose stones (plural: “pet kotoob”). They demarcate either a round or square area of sizes ranging up to 24,000 sq m. The stone wall is made of dry laid limestone and its height ranges from 40 - 120cm.
Identified flora enclosed by pet kots includes a remarkable presence of the well-known group of useful tree and plant species that Mayans (past and present) grow in their backyard gardens and which frequently are dominant of “climax” vegetation in the more humid areas of the Maya region. Specific plants and trees were used as medicine, food, and for the construction of houses. Worth mentioning are the tropical fruit species of Annona, Brosimum, Casimiroa, Leucaena, Pithcellobium, Spondias and Thalisia, and many other useful species such as Bursera simaruba, Malmea depressa, Sabal yapa, Sapindus saponaria, Vitex gaumeri, plus several others with well known uses.
Pet kots are believed to be walls that hold artificial forest gardens constructed with “wild” species coming from the local forests or from distant and more humid forests of the Maya region. A major difference with the technique of slash and burn is the absence of annual cultivated plants. Another important difference is the presence in the “pet kotoob” of many species of wild vines, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes which show no evidence of having been introduced.
It seems that pet kots were specifically used as a collection site of useful tree and plant species; the rest was up to nature to lead the way (competition, mortality, new arrivals, regeneration, etc.)
Archeologists believe these walls were also used as a means of orientation in the tropical forests. In dense jungle natural navigation via stars and the sun is not always possible; therefore, the walls became a permanent reference system which allowed future generations to orient themselves in the thick forest.
Another function the walls probably had was to establish boundaries between the communities of extended families.
Pet kots are still used by rural inhabitants today. On the Yucatan peninsula, limestone walls are being used as pens to enclose domesticated animals such as pigs or chickens.
It is clear that trees and multipurpose forests were an indispensable part of the subsistence systems of many ancient societies, as were also the usual edible crops. It is also clear that these small patches of man-made rainforests based on useful local species are an appealing additional alternative for modern reforestation and biological conservation projects in the tropics. These artificial forests are the only ones that people in these areas now plant by their own will.
ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS
After America was discovered, it took another 26 years before the Spaniards discovered Cozumel on May 3, 1518.
Since the Mayans saw the island as a sacred place, they always received the Hispanics with demonstra¬tions of peace. Nevertheless, the island was plundered and Cortés destroyed the statues of religious idols and replaced them with the Christian altar and cross.
The Spanish had not taken hygienic precautions, and the Black Plague instantly developed in alarming proportions. The Mayans, to whom the horrible disease was unknown, knew there was no use in searching for an herb that could cure the sickness. The entire population was nearly wiped out.
Additional causes of depopulation were the ongoing plundering of Cozumel and the slavery initiated by the English and Dutch.
Apart from a single escaped pirate and his family, the island was uninhabited for almost three centuries.
REPOPULATION
In 1847 a warlike commotion shook the Yucatán peninsula: La Guerra de Castas (literally “War of Races/Offspring”). The political and cultural geography changed. Many people fled the peninsula; one of their destinations was Cozumel.
Families of Spanish origin and their mestizo (which literally means “half-breed”) servants installed themselves in the ranch of San Miguel. With experience in market economy, they applied and divided the best fields. They soon had political and religious control over the island. Among this group of migrants was a priest who brought an image of the Archangel San Miguel, which became the island?s patron.
With the Mayan rebels being prosecuted, thousands of natives retreated to the wilderness of Quintana Roo. Some crossed the sea to arrive to Cozumel.
In total, the Yucatan lost 40% of its population in the War of Races, and its economy was paralyzed.
1900 - 2000
In 1900, the population totaled 971 people. Several of them had managed to get big pieces of land along the coast for the exploitation of coconut. More than seven decades later these territories would be the base of a new thriving industry: tourism.
From 1905 to 1930, the economy of the cruise ships was created. In 1922 the first hotel was built: named Hotel Louvre.
In November 1927 the aviator Charles Augus Lindberg came to the island. One year later there were international flights with amphibian-planes, controlled by the USA, to Belize, Cuba, and Miami.
In the 1940s the United States built an international airport. The connection by boat with other big harbors, such as Veracruz, in Mexico, and by plane with the United States, enabled the development of tourism.
In 1950 there was a population of 2332 inhabitants.
In 1974 the State of Quintana Roo was initiated. The state was divided in seven municipalities (today there are eight). One of them was Cozumel.
In 2000 the island officially counts 60,025 persons, of which 30,927 are men and 29,098 are women. The population now consists of descendants from the groups of migrants who repopulated Cozumel in 1847, people from the Yucatan Peninsula who moved here later because of the growing tourism, and an additional minor percentage of foreigners. 19.76% Of the population conserves the indigenous Mayan language in their families.
Since the present population and tourism increase faster than ever and get more demanding, modern society has a much bigger effect on the island?s environment in a short period of time than the relatively small-scaled old Mayan community has had in centuries. There is more need now than ever to protect nature.
3 ARCHEOLOGICAL TRACES
The island has a large concentration of (un-excavated) ruins and pre-Hispanic structures isolated through-out the island, mostly located along the coastal areas.
There is physical evidence that the island of Cozumel was inhabited before the Late Preclassic period (approx. 300 BC to 300 AD). This occupation continued until after the Spanish conquest.
Samples of ceramics collected from the structures of San Gervacio resemble those in the central or Petén region (located in Guatemala), of the classic period. It indicates that the island of Cozumel was inhabited since the Early and Medium Classic Period, from 300 to 750 AD. Later studies corresponded with this observation.
Archeological studies concluded that the major part of the architecture comes from the Post-classic Period (approx. 1200 to 1600 AD) and has the same style as comparative sites located along the eastern coast of Quintana Roo and the ruin sites of Mayapan. This type of architecture is called Oriental Coast or Tulum, because Tulum is the best example of the building style of the region.
SAN GERVASIO
The biggest and the most extensive pre-Hispanic site on the island is San Gervasio. It consists of six different architectural groups (Figure 1), each of which belong to separate periods of Mayan occupations in an area of approximately 3 km2. Here only the central square plus surrounding groups (Figure 2) will be discussed.
In the last period of occupation, the Post-classic Period (approx.1200-1600 AD), groups I, II, III and V – linked by a net of interior stone roads – were built. Also at this time, a series of regional white roads were constructed which link San Gervasio with other sites on the island. Other peculiarities on the island are the low pre-Hispanic walls which were already discussed. They are distributed in different locations throughout the island. They have also been found in areas of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Group I, “Central Plaza” of San Gervasio, is formed by 10 typical Postclassical structures. The plaza functioned as a site for meetings with priests, political leaders, or as a marketplace.
The name of Group IIl, “Manitas” (little hands), is derived from a mural depicting red hands. The temple Nohná (big house) is located here.
COZUMEL VEGETATION
The flora on Cozumel consists of halophilous (salt-tolerant) vegetation in the coastal dunes, mangroves, and perennial tropical dry forests, of both medium and low heights. These areas are very stratified and distinct, with the occasional mixed area.
This type of vegetation is distributed in a gradient manner that starts at the coastal line and extends to the central part of the island. This distribution is attributed to the topography of the island which allows the formation of specific communities, with their individualized biological characteristics (Figure 4).
In this chapter, coastal dunes, mangroves, and tropical dry forests in general are discussed.
Because most of the species mentioned are typically tropical, they might not have an English name. Therefore, species are described by their scientific name.
COASTAL DUNE
The halophilous (salt-tolerant) nature and thick waxy leaves characterize the vegetation that colonizes littoral zones. Existing plants are ground-level herbs and branching bushes of low altitude.
Two zones are distinguished. Annual halophilous plants occur between the coastal line and the first dune on the slope (pioneer zone). The second type is a thicket area with many species of bushes, some having spines. Species of this type control erosion by anchoring the sand in place. They are often used for food, medicinal application, and handcrafts, as well as for their ornamental value.
The most common species are: Coccoloba uvifera, Tournefortia gnaphalodes, Suriana maritima, Ambrosia hispida, Hymenocallis americana, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Cordia sebestena and Thrinax radiata (Appendix 1).
Coastal vegetation is well represented on the east coast of the island, where sandy and rocky beaches can be found.
MANGROVE
Directly following the coastal dune area, there is generally found a mangrove community. Mangrove is a vegetation community that is primarily located in areas that are periodically or permanently flooded with brackish water. The species that compose this community are highly adaptable to different grades of salinity. The ecosystem is characterized by its low-diversity; vegetation of this area is composed primarily of trees of few species (Appendix 1). The soil is boggy and has a high concentration of organic matter.
Mangroves are of biological and socio-economic importance. Many types of trees found here are used for construction of houses, making of carbon, medicinal application, and to create tannin (used to tan leather).
Mangrove swamps often serve as a hatchery and nursery for the larval stages of many brackish and saltwater fish species. Crabs, mussels, snails and other invertebrates find shelter in the red mangroves extensive root system. Herons and other birds often build nests in the branches of the trees and this nutrient-rich community provides food and shelter for many other migratory bird species and mammals.
Mangroves also serve as a buffer zone against waves, therefore controlling erosion. The roots help to collect and contain decomposing organic matter, which help to enrich the soil.
Mangrove vegetation encompasses almost the entire perimeter of the island. Mangrove swamps flourish in the northwest and southwest of the island. (Figure 3). The species characterizing this vegetation community are red, white, black and button mangrove; epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids are abundant.
TROPICAL DRY FOREST
Majority of Cozumel?s vegetation is characterized by medium low tropical dry forest. (Figure 3.)
Life zones of tropical dry forest are defined as frost-free areas where the mean annual temperature is above 17?C; mean annual rainfall ranges from 250-2,000mm, and the annual ratio of potential evapo-transpiration to precipitation exceeds unity.
The low tropical dry forests on the island are distributed between the mangrove areas and medium tropical dry forests. Their distribution areas are very narrow and are represented along the east side of the island. The compositions of the species are very similar to that of the medium tropical dry forests. They are not as high, however. Medium tropical dry forests occupy most of Cozumel island. This large area is composed of three different layers of plants: trees, bushes and herbs.
Most common are: Manilkara zapota, Vitex gaumeri, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Bursera simaruba, Piscidia piscipula, Metopium brownei, Plumeria obtusa, Gymnopodium floribundum, Randiaaculeata, Sabal mayarum, Coccothrinax readii and Thevetia gaumeri. Abundant are vines, and epiphytes such as Ryncholaelia digbyana, Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia streptophylla, Catasetum integerrimum, Brassavola nodosa, Myrmecophila tibicinis and Encyclia belizensis.
