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 […]

Posted inArchaeology

Archaeologists Discover the House of the Shields at Chichén Itzá was the Palace Guard’s Headquarters

Experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico have made significant discoveries in the excavations and restoration work being carried out at the Casa de los Escudos (House of the Shields), one of the most enigmatic buildings in the so-called Initial Series Group at Chichén Itzá. Thanks to recent research, archaeologists […]

Posted inArchaeology

A Burial Cave in the Mayan City of Tulum Found Closed by a Large Rock that Trapped an Individual

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico made a significant discovery while carrying out improvement works in the archaeological area of Tulum, Quintana Roo. By removing a large rock blocking the entrance to a hidden cave within the walled area of the Maya city, they uncovered the skeletal remains of […]

Posted inArchaeology

Sculpted head of a warrior with serpent helmet found at Chichen Itza

Archaeologists working at the Maya archaeological site of Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico, have made an exciting new discovery. During ongoing excavations funded by Mexico’s Archaeological Zones Improvement Program (Promeza), the sculpted face of a warrior emerged among the ruins of Structure 3C11 in the area known as Temple 6 of Maudslay. The partially preserved […]

Posted inArchaeology

A Mayan Structure Linked to the Cult of Kukulcan, God of the Wind, Reveals the Location of the Ancient Itzamkanac of the Chronicles

The Ministry of Culture, through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), revealed the recent discovery of a circular structure in the archaeological zone of El Tigre, Campeche (Mexico). According to Diego Prieto Hernández, director of INAH, this finding dates back to the late occupation period of the ancient Mayan settlement, between the years […]

Posted inArchaeology

In Pre-Hispanic Cancun, Immigrants Received the Same Treatment as the Mayans

A new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE sheds light on the late Postclassic period (1200-1500 AD) in the northern Maya lowlands of Mexico. During this time of major change, many settlements developed along the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, influenced partly by the expansion of trade routes. Previous research found that […]

Posted inModern Era

Gonzalo Guerrero, the Spanish castaway who became a Mayan and fought against the conquistadors

When we talk about miscegenation in reference to the ethnic and cultural fusion that the conquest of America by the Spanish meant, there is a character that embodies it almost emblematically. He is Gonzalo Guerrero, a shipwrecked man who, after years of living with a Mayan tribe, became naturalized, formed a family and even fought […]