Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a nearly 3,000-year-old massive Mayan city in Guatemala, providing new insights into this ancient civilization.
Credit: Adam Jones – CC BY-SA 2.0, Wmpearl – Public Domain, Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports. Image compilation AncientPages.com
This extensive site includes sanctuaries, pyramids, and a distinctive canal system that could further our understanding of Mayan life. According to the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports, the complex spans approximately six square miles and was discovered through the collaborative efforts of Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists, as well as international experts. This discovery is part of the Uaxactún Regional Archaeological Project (PARU), supported by Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The newly found Mayan city, named Los Abuelos, encompasses three sites—Los Abuelos, Petnal, and Cambrayal—located near the notable Mayan site of Uaxactún in northern Guatemala’s Petén region.
An impressive Mayan complex has been discovered in northern Guatemala. This significant archaeological find offers valuable insights into the ancient civilization’s architectural and cultural practices, further enriching our understanding of the Mayan world. Credit: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports
“The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle. These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Peten. Located here is one of the most important ritual centers in the region, with notable sanctuaries, helping to reassess our understanding of Mayan history,” the ministry said, announcing the discovery.
The Mayan civilization emerged around 2,000 B.C. and flourished between 400 and 900 A.D. in regions that are now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Los Abuelos, meaning “The Grandparents” in Spanish, is situated approximately 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Uaxactún. The site derives its name from two anthropomorphic rock figures discovered there, thought to symbolize an “ancestral couple,” according to the ministry.
An ancient artifact discovered at the Uaxactun archeological site in Guatemala. Credit: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports
The sculptures of this “ancestral couple,” dating from 500 to 300 BC, may be linked to ancient rituals of ancestor worship. This connection enriches our understanding of Mayan culture and underscores Los Abuelos’ pivotal role in preserving these timeless traditions.
A pot unearthed at the site. Credit: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports
Dating back to the Middle Preclassic period, around 800 to 500 B.C., Los Abuelos is one of the earliest and most significant ceremonial centers of Mayan civilization in the Petén jungle near Mexico’s border.
Here we see two anthropomorphic sculptures that “represent an ancestral couple.” Credit: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports
The ministry highlights its exceptional architectural planning, with pyramids and monuments adorned with unique regional iconography that truly set it apart.
Just east of Los Abuelos is Petnal, home to a remarkable 33-meter-high (108-foot) pyramid. At its summit are two well-preserved rooms featuring murals rich in symbolic representations, as noted by Carrillo.
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Furthermore, in Cambrayal, about three miles (4.8 kilometers) from Los Abuelos, scientists have uncovered “unique” water canals within a palace. This extraordinary discovery underscores the advanced engineering skills of this ancient civilization.
The Uaxactun archaeological site in Guatemala has yielded a fascinating collection of sculptures. Credit: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports
These findings collectively provide compelling evidence of the sophistication and cultural richness inherent in Mayan heritage, making a strong case for further exploration and study of these incredible sites.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
