In 2022, the 500th anniversary of the First Circumnavigation of the World was celebrated, the Spanish maritime expedition that allowed for global circumnavigation and opened a route to the Spice Islands as an alternative to the route along the southern tip of Africa, which was monopolized by Portugal. It was a grand adventure in which […]
Pre-Hispanic America
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 […]
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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 […]
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Mega-Earthquakes were the Cause of the Architectural Evolution of Teotihuacan, and its Subsequent Abandonment
Teotihuacán, one of the most influential Mesoamerican cultures, has witnessed devastating earthquakes since the dawn of the American civilizations. This city located in the Central Valley of Mexico, which flourished between 150 B.C. and 650 A.D., was the scene of a highly developed society that built imposing pyramids and temples. According to a recent study, […]
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Petroglyphs Discovered in Southern Peru Depict Songs Related to Cosmological Rituals
One of the richest sites in rock art in South America is found in Toro Muerto, in southern Peru. A unique aspect of the iconography of the petroglyphs at the site is the figures of dancing people, called “dancers”, which are often associated with geometric motifs, mainly variants of zigzag lines. Building upon intriguing data […]
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Prehispanic Canal Networks and Pier Discovered in Tlatelolco
Comprised of 19 neighborhoods, the ancient city of Mexico-Tlatelolco boasted a complex hydraulic structure, as evidenced by the recent discovery of canal networks and a pier that would be modified in the early colonial period. Since late September 2023, the federal Ministry of Culture, through the Archaeological Salvage Directorate of the National Institute of Anthropology […]
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Archaeologists Confirm the Tetelictic Pyramid in Mexico was a Solar Observatory for Tracking the Agricultural Cycle
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History conducted excavations in the so-called Great Plaza of the Tetelictic archaeological site, as its inhabitants referred to the sacred enclosure, in the municipality of Teteles de Ávila Castillo in Puebla, Mexico, with the aim of consolidating the three main structures found in it. These structures, which […]
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1300-Year-Old Tomb of a Man Buried Face Down on Top of a Woman with a Fabulous Gold Treasure Trove Found in Panama
A recent excavation at the El Caño archaeological park in the province of Coclé has unearthed the remains of a powerful ruler of the region and a spectacular funerary assemblage composed of gold pieces, ceramics, and other materials. The discovery, made this summer by a team from the Ministry of Culture and the El Caño […]
Posted inArchaeology
Archaeologists Discover Intriguing Pre-Hispanic Burial in Mexico, Intended as Founding Ritual of a Settlement
Staff from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico made a significant archaeological discovery while supervising construction works in the locality of Pozo de Ibarra, Nayarit. While excavating for the sewer system, they uncovered a complex burial from the pre-Hispanic era that sheds light on the funerary practices of the region at […]
