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Research By UC Prof Suggests Ancient Maya Built Parkland

Dr. David Lentz
A pyramid at Tikal

The ancient Maya were among the world's first accomplished urbanists. And recent discoveries aided by a University of Cincinnati researcher suggest that at least one of their largest and most sophisticated cityscapes seems to have included something familiar to modern urban dwelers: parks.

UC Professor of Biology Dr. David Lentz played a role in an innovative analysis of plant DNA that uncovered the presence of more than 30 kinds of flowering plants, trees and other cultivated vegetation around water reservoirs in densely built sections of the Maya city of Tikal more than 1,000 years ago. 

Dr. Lentz joins Cincinnati Edition to talk about the science behind this discovery and what it means for our understanding of Tikal, which was one of the largest cities on earth at the time.

Listen to Cincinnati Edition live at noon M-F. Audio for this segment will be uploaded after 4 p.m. ET.

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Michael Monks brings a broad range of experience to WVXU-FM as the host of Cincinnati Edition, Cincinnati Public Radio's weekday news and information talk show.