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A significant archaeological discovery has emerged from Tikal National Park in Guatemala, where a Teotihuacan-style altar was unearthed. This finding highlights the historical interaction between the Teotihuacan civilization of Mexico and the Mayans of Guatemala, as reported by the Culture and Sports Ministry of Guatemala this week.
Tikal, once a sprawling city-state marked by its towering temples amid a lush jungle, was a major player in the region, often engaged in power struggles with the Kaanul dynasty for supremacy in the Mayan world.
Located in central Mexico, Teotihuacan—known as “the city of the gods”—is famous for its iconic Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. At its zenith, the city was home to over 100,000 residents and covered approximately eight square miles, making it one of the most populous urban centers in the ancient world from 100 B.C. to A.D. 750. Interestingly, Teotihuacan was later abandoned prior to the rise of the Aztec Empire in the 14th century.
Leading the discovery, archaeologist Lorena Paiz indicated that the altar was likely employed for sacrificial practices, specifically involving children. “The remains of three children, each not older than four, were discovered around three sides of the altar,” Paiz stated to The Associated Press.
“Teotihuacans were known as traders who traveled widely across Guatemala,” Paiz continued. “Their residential areas typically included complexes with rooms and central altars, mirroring the layout of the recent findings, which show an altar featuring a representation of the Storm Goddess.”
The research team shared video footage showcasing the altar’s aerial view and details of its interior structure.
“This find is unprecedented in Guatemala; nothing comparable has been uncovered here before,” Paiz remarked in a statement.
Archaeologists dedicated a year and a half to carefully excavate this altar within a dwelling and conduct thorough analyses prior to releasing their findings. Edwin Román, who heads the South Tikal Archaeological Project, explained that this discovery sheds light on the sociopolitical and cultural relations between the Maya and the elites of Teotihuacan during the years spanning from 300 to 500 A.D. He emphasized that Tikal functioned as a cosmopolitan hub, attracting visitors from various cultures and affirming its stature as a center of cultural synthesis.
Another expert, MarÃa Belén Méndez, an archaeologist not directly involved in the excavation, noted that the altar reinforces the notion of interconnectedness between these two cultures, particularly in their religious practices and relationships with deities and celestial phenomena. “The role of sacrifice was evident in both civilizations—it was their means of spiritual connection, rather than an indication of violence,” she explained.
Measuring just over a yard in width from east to west, approximately two yards in length from north to south, and standing about a yard tall, the altar is composed of limestone. The accompanying dwelling also featured anthropomorphic figures adorned with red tassels, which signify the artistic style characteristic of the Teotihuacan culture, according to an official statement from the ministry.
The researchers disseminated their findings in the scholarly journal Antiquity, bolstering our understanding of ancient cultural dynamics. This announcement follows another recent finding in which a hidden Mayan city was discovered in a dense Mexican jungle, coincidentally identified by a doctoral student who had inadvertently passed the site in the past.
Tikal National Park is situated approximately 325 miles north of Guatemala City, and access to the discovery site remains restricted with no public visitation planned. Tikal itself is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, having reached its cultural pinnacle between 200 and 900 A.D., a period during which Mayan civilization extended across territories now known as Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Teotihuacan, renowned for its monumental pyramids, is located about 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, flourishing primarily between 100 and 600 A.D.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
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