A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports has revealed mercury contamination in the ancient water reservoirs of the Maya city of Ucanal, located in Petén, Guatemala. The research team, made up of archaeologists and geoscientists, found excessively high levels of mercury in the sediments of three water reservoirs dating back to […]
Guatemala
Maya Ruler Burned Bodies of their Predecessors to Reinvent the Kingdom, Remains Found in Ucanal Reveal
Researchers have discovered evidence of a ritual burning event of human bones in the early 9th century at the Maya site of Ucanal (Guatemala), the capital of the K’anwitznal kingdom. This event marked a moment of change not only for the kingdom but also for the Maya Lowlands in general. Excavations at Ucanal have revealed […]
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 […]
Ancient Mayan King’s Tomb Full of Inscribed Human Bones and Jade Mask Discovered by Archaeologists
A team of archaeologists from Tulane University has made an incredible discovery deep in the Guatemalan jungle – an untouched 1,700-year-old Maya royal tomb. Led by Francisco Estrada-Belli, the researchers were exploring ancient ruins known as Chochkitam near the borders of modern-day Mexico and Belize when they stumbled upon the remarkable burial site. Inside the […]
The ancient sculptors of the stone heads and potbellies of Monte Alto, Guatemala, knew the magnetic properties of the rocks
Archaeologists discovered that ancient Mesoamerican sculptures from 2000 BC in Monte Alto, Guatemala, had deliberate magnetic properties, predating similar artifacts from Izapa, Mexico, dated 1500 BC.