Fascinating finds: Ritual objects of the ancient Maya
They went looking for a sacred well. But archaeologists working beneath the ancient Mexican city of Chichén Itzá discovered something far more surprising: vases, decorative plates, incense burners, and other ritual artifacts left more than 1,000 years ago in an extensive cave system. For the ancient Maya, caves were sacred…
What the ancient Maya did to forests can still be felt today
The ancient Maya lived in tropical forests. But they wanted to plant corn. They needed firewood to heat their homes. And they built temples, pyramids, and cities. So they cut down countless trees and clear-cut large areas of land. Experts believe this led to the end of the Maya empire.…
Rare Mayan jade discovered in Guatemala
Archaeologists from Japan have discovered a treasure trove of rare jade pieces used by the Mayan people in public ceremonies. The pieces date back as far as 1000 BC. Because the jade shows no signs of wearing down by fabric, it's likely that they were not jewelry, but used in…
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