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 […]
Maya
Posted inArchaeology
9 Patolli Boards, an Ancient Mesoamerican Game Played with Beans, Found in Mexico
During the archaeological rescue efforts led by the federal Ministry of Culture, through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), nine patolli engravings were discovered along Section 7 of the Maya Train. These patollis, which are an ancient Mesoamerican game, were found on the free road to Chetumal, in a structure identified as T7-44279, […]
Posted inArchaeology
A Large Panel with 123 Maya Glyphs Mentioning an Until-Now Unknown King, Discovered in Mexico
The Secretariat of Culture of the Government of Mexico, in collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), has announced the discovery of a fascinating panel containing an extensive Maya hieroglyphic text, which was found engraved on the rock of a nearby lagoon to the imposing pyramid structure Nohoch Mul, in the emblematic […]
Posted inArchaeology
Mayan Genome Analysis Reveals Practice of Ritual Sacrifice of Twin Boys
A new study explores the ritual practice of child sacrifice at Chichén Itzá, an ancient Maya city. Following the collapse of the classical Maya civilization, Chichén Itzá emerged as a powerful and influential city. Despite its prominence, much about its political connections and ritual life remains a mystery. The study, published in Nature, reveals that […]
Posted inArchaeology
Remains of Mayan Beekeeping Discovered in Mexico
Beekeeping has been a deeply rooted practice in the daily life of the Mayan population of the Yucatán Peninsula since pre-Hispanic times, as evidenced by various codices, such as the Madrid or the Tro-Cortesian, as well as some chronicles of the Indies, which mention that the ancient indigenous people used honey both as food, an […]
Posted inArchaeology
Chultun Discovered for the First Time Inside a Building in the Mayan City of Tulum
A chultún is a type of underground bottle-shaped reservoir used to collect rainwater and is an important element in the architecture of the Mayan civilization. The discovery of one of these compartments inside a building for the first time in the Archaeological Zone of Tulum has sparked great interest among archaeologists. The find is part […]
Posted inArchaeology
Maya blessed their ball fields by depositing hallucinogenic plants and chili under them
For sports enthusiasts, iconic locations like Fenway Park, Wembley Stadium, or Centre Court at Wimbledon are revered as hallowed ground. But even millennia before these modern venues, ancient Maya built ballcourts that were more than just places to play; they were sites of ceremonial significance and sacred rituals. Recent archaeological research from the University of […]
Posted inArchaeology
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 […]
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 inArchaeology
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 […]
