Around a thousand years ago, the ancient city of Cantona stood as one of the largest urban centres in the Americas, with an estimated population of 90,000 people. Built on the volcanic highlands of central Mexico, the fortified settlement thrived for centuries before it was mysteriously abandoned by the mid-11th century. Archaeologists have long debated what caused its decline, pointing to conflict, political upheaval and shifting trade networks. The PNAS study suggests climate may have played a crucial role. By analysing sediments from a nearby lake, scientists uncovered evidence of a prolonged 650-year period of recurring drought that coincided with Cantona's final centuries. While researchers say drought alone did not doom the city, the findings offer fresh insight into how environmental stress combined with social and political pressures may have led to its eventual collapse.
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