Beneath the bustling Chapultepec Ave., in the heart of Mexico City, a team from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) uncovered the remains of a dock and a navigable canal dating back to pre-Hispanic times at a depth of two meters. This area was once the shoreline of a peninsula located at the […]
Pre-Hispanic America
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
The Mass Offering of Children to Tlaloc Coincided with the Great Drought of 1454 in Mexico
In a context marked by water scarcity and collective despair, the mass offering of children sacrificed to the god of rain, Tlaloc, carried out in the 15th century, emerged as a response to the drought that devastated the population and crops between 1452 and 1454, when rains failed to come and fields lay barren. Through […]
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 inArchaeology
A Large Maya City with Pyramids and Over 6,500 Structures Found in Campeche, Mexico
In recent years, Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology has transformed the way scientists study ancient civilizations, allowing them to analyze vast areas from the comfort of a lab. Such is the case with a research team from Tulane University, which has uncovered the existence of vast unexplored Maya settlements in the Mexican state of […]
Posted inArchaeology
Reliefs with Figures of Guardians, Celestial Ancestors, and Mythical Animals of the Kaanu’l Mayan Dynasty Found in Mexico
The recent archaeological discovery in the Dzibanché Archaeological Zone, Quintana Roo (Mexico), has provided new insights into the grandeur of the Kaanu’l dynasty, one of the most influential in the ancient Mayan civilization. Under the serpent emblem, known as “kaan” in the Mayan language, this powerful lineage ruled vast territories that today include parts of […]
Posted inArchaeology
The entire Maya city of Ucanal and its inhabitants were contaminated with mercury
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 […]
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 […]
Posted inArchaeology
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, […]
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, […]
