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 […]
Pre-Hispanic America
Posted inArchaeology
The Origin of the Inca Girl Sacrificed on the Quehuar Volcano, and that She Fed on Seaweed, Revealed by Analysis
The discovery of an Inca mummy on the Quehuar Volcano, located in the Salta region of Argentina in 1975, was a significant archaeological finding that allowed for a deeper understanding of Inca ritual practices and the dynamics of Capacocha, a ritual sacrifice of children in honor of their deities. The discovery, which was initially impacted […]
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The Throne Room of a Queen from the Moche Culture Associated with the Moon Goddess and Marine Creatures, Found in Peru
In the most recent excavation season of the Pañamarca Archaeological Landscapes project, a remarkable discovery was made: a previously unknown painted architecture at the site. This project, initiated in 2018, aims to uncover the activities that took place in Pañamarca and its surroundings in ancient times. It is a collaborative effort involving archaeologists, art historians, […]
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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, […]
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8 Large Pre-Hispanic Shell Mounds Up to 12 Meters High Found on a Mexican Island
In a discovery that sheds light on the complex interactions between pre-Hispanic cultures in northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, archaeologists have uncovered what could be the most extensive shell mound site in the state of Sinaloa, located on Macapule Island, one of 17 islets scattered across the Gulf of California in the municipality […]
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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 […]
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The DNA of a Child Sacrificed in the Ancient City of Paquimé in Mexico Reveals a Surprising Relationship
A recent genetic study of the remains of a child buried in the ancient city of Paquimé in northern Mexico has revealed a surprising finding: the parents of this child were closely related, likely being half-siblings or uncle/aunt and niece/nephew. This level of consanguinity is extremely rare in most human societies, but it appears to […]
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Temple and Theater 3500 Years Older Than the Inca Civilization Found on Peru’s Coast
Researchers have unearthed a temple and theater on Peru’s coast that are about 3500 years older than the famous Inca civilization. It was incredible, says Muro Ynoñán, a research scientist at the Field Museum in Chicago. This finding sheds light on the early origins of religion in Peru, revealing new insights into how complex belief […]
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Why Did the 50,000 Inhabitants Abandon the Great Pre-Hispanic City of Cahokia? Archaeologists Assert Drought Was Not the Cause
Nine hundred years ago, Cahokia, located just across the Mississippi River from present-day St. Louis, was a thriving metropolis. With a population of around 50,000, it was one of the largest communities globally. By 1400, however, Cahokia was almost entirely deserted, leaving behind a mystery that has intrigued historians and archaeologists. A common theory posited […]
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The Discovery of “The Man of Bilbao” Reveals a Tool Production Camp of Hunter-Gatherers in Mexico
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has announced a significant archaeological discovery in the Coahuila desert. It is the skeleton of an individual, called “The Man of Bilbao”, found in the dunes near the ancient Viesca lagoon. This discovery, dated between 700 and 1000 years ago, sheds light on the life of the […]
