3,000-year-old Mayan site may be a map of the universe
Humans have long been fascinated with the universe around us — as proven by an archaeological site recently unearthed. The 3,000-year-old Mayan site is thought to be a giant, city-size map showing the ‘order of the universe,’ researchers say. It’s the largest monumental construction known today in the Maya area in the state of Tabasco, near Mexico’s southeastern border. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
The monument was found at a site called Aguada Fénix, and is nearly a mile long and a quarter-mile wide, ranging from 30 to 50 feet high, and dates to 1,000 BC. It was found in the summer of 2020, and in the five years since the researchers have found nearly 500 similar, smaller sites around the landscape in southeastern Mexico. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
The researchers, led by professors of anthropology Takeshi Inomata and Daniela Triadan at the University of Arizona, say that they have found the latest and clearest evidence that Aguada Fénix was a cosmogram. That means it’s a model that represents the order of the universe, seen at other Maya sites, and could make it among the most significant ceremonial sites for the Maya area. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
The team found a cross-shaped pit, called a cruciform, that held ceremonial artefacts, which provide information on early Maya rituals. In their new paper, the researchers argue against the long held understanding that Mesoamerican cultures grew gradually, building increasingly larger settlements, such as Tikal in Guatemala and Teotihuacan in central Mexico. The researchers say that Aguada Fénix predates the peak of those cities by nearly a thousand years. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
Professor Inomata said: ‘What we are finding is that there was a “big bang” of construction at the beginning of 1,000 BC, which really nobody knew about. Huge planning and construction really happened at the very beginning.’ The team used LiDAR imaging, which uses lasers from an airplane flown overhead, to scan through jungle and forest to create 3D maps of human-made structures. (Picture: Xanti S. Ceballos Pesina)
They found that the monument’s centerline aligns with the rising sun on October 17 and February 24 – a 130-day span that probably represents half of the 260-day cycle of the Mesoamerican ritual calendar, the researchers say. They also looked at dating the cruciform pit and the construction layers above it, as well as analysing shards of ceramic material that helped date the cruciform. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
They found ornaments carved from jade that they said represented a crocodile, a bird, and what they believe is a woman giving birth. At the bottom of the pit was a smaller cruciform, where they found mineral pigments, which are small piles of blue, green and yellowish soil, arranged to correspond to cardinal directions. (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
Prof Inomata said: ‘We’ve known that there are specific colors associated with specific directions, and that’s important for all Mesoamerican people, even the Native American people in North America. But we never had actual pigment placed in this way. This is the first case that we’ve found those pigments associated with each specific direction. So that was very exciting.’(Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology)
The study also revealed a network of raised causeways and sunken corridors that Aguada Fénix’s builders used to walk to and through the site, the researchers say. They also found canals and a dam to divert water from a nearby laguna. Prof Inomata said: ‘These leaders didn’t have power to force other people. Most came probably willingly, because this idea of building a cosmogram was really important to them, and so they worked together.’ (Picture: Takeshi Inomata/School of Anthropology) Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Related Posts:
Quantum Shore developers expect to spend millions on site remediation at old South Works site News Developers behind the forthcoming quantum computing campus at the former U.S. Steel South Works plant have submitted remediation plans to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. But neighborhood organizations are still pushing for more assurances that they’ll benefit from the site’s transformation into a technology hub. Related Midwest and CRG voluntarily…
Judge adopts Utah congressional map creating a Democratic-leaning district for 2026 News By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah judge on Monday rejected a new congressional map drawn by Republican lawmakers and adopted an alternate proposal creating a Democratic-leaning district ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Related Articles Shutdown leaves a mark on an already-struggling economy, from…
Storm tracker map: Where it’s raining in the Bay Area News Rain started falling in the Bay Area before sunrise Thursday and was expected to continue into the evening. Related Articles Atmospheric river storm to bring Bay Area high winds, rain For Bay Area, more rain coming as another atmospheric river approaches Marin County reservoirs plentiful ahead of La Niña winter…
Storm tracker map: Where it’s raining in the Bay Area News Rain started falling in the Bay Area before sunrise Thursday and was expected to continue into the evening. Related Articles Atmospheric river storm to bring Bay Area high winds, rain For Bay Area, more rain coming as another atmospheric river approaches Marin County reservoirs plentiful ahead of La Niña winter…
Rosemont's Allstate Arena will host PWHL neutral-site games News The Professional Women's Hockey League is growing its schedule of Takeover Tour neutral-site games to 16 for its third season — including a stop in the Chicago area. With the eight-team league already planning further expansion in Year 4, several major Canadian and U.S. markets — including Chicago, Denver and…
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
