Archaeologists in Guatemala made a terrible discovery - in the ancient altar of Maay's civilization, located in the ancient city of Tikal, the remains of children, probably victims of ritual rites. This was reported in a study published in Antiquity , which is referred to by Popular Science .
The find is located in the famous archaeological complex of Tikal - one of the main political and cultural centers of the classical May period. The altar, where the remains were found, was first discovered in the 1960s, but only now, during new excavations, did the researchers manage to identify the true scale of the ritual complex.
Among the found - the remains of several children under the age of four, including one body, located in a characteristic posture. Archaeologists also found the remains of an adult with a spear tip made from green obsidian - a mineral, which was often used in the culture of Teotuacan, an influential city in modern Mexico.
This discovery intensified the hypotheses about ancient contacts (and possibly conflicts) between Maya and Teotuacan. Particularly surprised by the scientists was the fact that after the end of the ritual, the altar and adjacent structures were not reconstructed or re -used - as was usually done by Maya. Instead, the place was simply buried, as if trying to "bury" the very memory of the events.
"The locals are likely to be treated as a memorial or even a dangerous area that should be avoided. This may indicate deep emotional or political injuries related to Teotuacan," explained one of the excavations, archaeologist Andrew Sherer.
This find is an important evidence of complex relationships between the leading civilizations of Mesoamerics and confirms that the practice of sacrifices was more widespread than previously thought. Researchers hope that further DNA analysis and residue microtracks will help establish the origin of the victims and better understand the context of the rituals of the time.
