Ancient Maya Pyramid Holds Royal Bones Burnt In 'Desecration' Ritual
Published Apr 17, 2024 at 7:01 PM EDT
By Aristos Georgiou
Science and Health Reporter
Archaeologists excavating an ancient Maya pyramid have uncovered royal remains that appear to have been burnt in an apparent "act of desecration", and Newsweek spoke to the lead researcher about the details.
A team of researchers found the remains during investigations at the archaeological site of Ucanal, Guatemala, which was once the capital of a Maya kingdom called K'anwitznal.
A study describing the findings, published in the journal Antiquity, suggests that the ritual burning event, which took place in the 9th century, marked the takeover of a new political regime and was a public display of power. This represents a very rare example of political regime change appearing in the archaeological record, according to the authors.
"Key tipping points of history are rarely found directly in the archaeological record, not least because an event's significance often lies in the perception of the participants," the authors wrote in the study. "This article documents an early 9th-century ritual fire-burning event at the Maya site of Ucanal in Guatemala and argues that it marked a public dismantling of an old regime."
A carved pendant plaque of a human head from the pyramid burial at Ucanal in Guatemala. Researchers have uncovered evidence that the burial represents the remains of Maya royals that were burnt in a ritual act.
CHRISTINA HALPERIN/ANTIQUITY PUBLICATIONS LTD
During excavations of the "K2" temple-pyramid at Ucanal, the research team, led by Christina Halperin with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montreal, Canada, discovered a deposit containing burnt human remains and ornaments.
More:
https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-maya-pyramid-holds-royal-bones-burnt-desecration-ritual-1891427