Near Carrizal de Bravo in the Sierra of Guerrero, a cave known as Tlayócoc has revealed an archaeological treasure that could rewrite part of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic history. The discovery, made in the fall of 2023 by a local guide and a Russian speleologist, has sparked the interest of experts from the National Institute of Anthropology […]
Pre-Columbian Era
The Pre-Columbian era refers to the time period in the Americas before significant European influence, specifically before Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1492. It encompasses indigenous cultures and civilizations from around 15,000 BCE up until the early 16th century CE.
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
An Altar Found in Tikal Reveals Teotihuacan’s Political Domination Over the Maya Elite in the Late 4th Century AD
Just steps from the center of Tikal, a Maya city more than 2,400 years old located in the heart of present-day Guatemala, an international team of researchers — including scholars from Brown University — has unearthed an altar that could offer revealing clues about an enigmatic and tumultuous period in Mesoamerican history. The altar, whose […]
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
Remains of Men, Women, and Children Buried as Heroes Found in Circular Pits of the Chuquibamba Culture in Peru
In October 2024, the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław (UWr) began a new season of archaeological excavations in southern Peru, in a project that has yielded surprising findings that shed light on little-known aspects of the pre-Inca cultures of the region. The epicenter of these investigations has been the Atico River Valley […]
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
5 Clay Figures with Dramatic Expressions Found Atop a Pyramid in El Salvador Could Be Ritual Puppets from 400 B.C.
A recent archaeological discovery in El Salvador could change the understanding of rituals and performances in Mesoamerica during the Middle Preclassic Period. A team of researchers, led by archaeologist Jan Szymański from the University of Warsaw, discovered five clay figures atop a pyramid at the San Isidro archaeological site. These figures, which feature striking facial […]
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
The Pre-Hispanic Casarabe Civilization Developed an Engineering System to Cultivate Maize Year-Round in the Amazon Between 500 and 1400 AD
A recent archaeological discovery has revealed that an ancient pre-Columbian society in the Amazon region successfully developed a sophisticated agricultural engineering system that allowed them to cultivate maize continuously throughout the year. This discovery, made by a team of researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of Prehistory at […]
Posted inPre-Columbian Era
How the Aztec “Death Whistles” Worked, the Terrifying Sound They Used in Sacrifice Rituals, Discovered
The so-called Aztec “death whistle” is an instrument distinguished by producing a chilling sound, comparable to a person’s blood-curdling scream, and has been the subject of study for its possible ritual uses and psychological effects on listeners. A recent analysis by the University of Zurich has revealed that these whistles can trigger an intense response […]
Posted inArchaeology, Pre-Columbian Era
The Construction of the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacán Led to the Emergence of the Maya “Ajawtaak”
The influence of Teotihuacán on Maya civilization during the Early Classic period (150-600 AD) has been widely debated, particularly concerning its role in the rise of the ajawtaak or Maya lords. A recent study focused on the site of Tikal and Teotihuacán’s interactions in Mesoamerica suggests that the construction of the Pyramid of the Feathered […]
Posted inPre-Columbian Era
The New Fire Ceremony Practiced by the Mexica to Prevent the End of the World
Letting go of the old to enter the new year is a metaphorical custom that is quite rooted in some corners of Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. In the transalpine country, and more specifically in places like Naples, Calabria, or Sicily, objects of all kinds (even furniture, for which there are specific hours ad hoc) […]
Posted inPre-Columbian Era
Piedras Negras, the City where the Inscriptions that Proved the Maya had Historical Records were Found
Seasoned travelers often say, not without reason, that Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. A big part of it is thanks to marvelous sites like Lake Atitlán, the pools of Semuc Champey, Chichicastenango, Quetzaltenango (Xela), Izabal, or the abandoned city of Antigua. But also the splendid Mayan archaeological sites of […]
Posted inPre-Columbian Era, Science
Researchers Discover that Syphilis-like Diseases Were Widespread in the Americas Before Columbus’ Arrival
Scientists have made an amazing discovery that sheds new light on the history of an important disease. Researchers from the universities of Basel and Zurich in Switzerland found the genetic material of the pathogen Treponema pallidum in the bones of people who died in Brazil around 2,000 years ago. This is the oldest confirmed discovery […]
