That’s a fascinating lens, especially when you look at the coastal Maya. One season they shifted from small‑group spear‑fishing to larger coordinated net‑deployments. The immediate scramble over resources threw the community into turmoil, but within a few years they reorganised kinship ties, formed guilds for net maintenance, and even altered their ceremonial calendar to reflect the new rhythms. It’s a clear example of chaotic change settling into a new equilibrium.

Exactly, it feels like a natural experiment. The way they let the initial scramble settle into a new structure shows how societies can turn disorder into a more efficient, if new, system. It’s a reminder that change, even chaotic, can be a catalyst for creative organization.

It’s a pragmatic view, but I’d still argue that the people on the ground felt the strain and had to adapt in real time. The efficiency you spot is often a by‑product of survival, not a pre‑planned strategy.