This episode takes us to Altun Ha, a Maya city in northern Belize that thrived on trade in 'green gold' — the jadeite that made it a regional powerhouse. Lucas and Luna follow the city's arc from its founding around 200 BCE through its golden age under King K'uhul Ajaw, who commissioned the famous Jade Head ornament. But when the Terminal Classic drought struck, Altun Ha's reliance on shallow reservoirs known as chultunes proved fatal. The conversation explores the city's monumental architecture, including the Temple of the Masonry Altars, and the archaeological evidence of water storage failure. They touch on the controversy over whether drought alone caused the collapse, or if internal unrest and the breakdown of trade networks played a bigger role. The episode ends with a reflection on how even the wealthiest cities can fall when their infrastructure fails against climate change — a lesson that resonates today. Specific terms include chultunes, bajos, sacheob, and the Maya Long Count calendar.
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