In recent archaeological excavations, an ancient altar dating back approximately 1,700 years has been discovered in Tikal, a significant Mayan city located in present-day Guatemala. This altar, adorned with vivid decorations and containing the remains of two individuals, could offer critical insights into the complex geopolitics of the time. The discovery was officially reported in the journal Antiquity, shedding light on a previously debated interaction between the Mayans and a distant civilization, Teotihuacan.
Tikal is a well-known archaeological site that served as an important center for the ancient Maya civilization. However, surprising evidence now suggests that the altar might not have been created by the Mayans themselves. Rather, it is believed that artists trained in Teotihuacan – a powerful urban center situated around 630 miles away, near modern-day Mexico City – were responsible for its elaborate design. This realization implies that Teotihuacan wielded considerable influence over the region, extending its cultural legacy to the Mayan city.
Prior to this significant find, the scholarly community was aware of interactions between the Maya and Teotihuacan but lacked clarity on the nature of their relationship. Excavation co-author Stephen Houston, a distinguished professor specializing in Mayan culture at Brown University, commented on the findings, indicating that the altar substantiates the idea that affluent leaders from Teotihuacan traveled to Tikal and constructed replicas of their ritual spaces. This suggests a robust cultural exchange between the two civilizations, with Teotihuacan’s impact felt deep within Mayan society.
Houston, along with a collaborative team from both the United States and Guatemala, began their excavations in 2019. Their efforts were spurred by innovative geological scans that revealed structures hidden beneath what was originally believed to be a natural hill. Upon further exploration, the team unearthed this astonishing altar, characterized by faint artistic depictions of a person adorned with a feathered headdress and remnants of bright red, black, and yellow paint. These design elements echo representations of a deity referred to as the “Storm God,” which is predominantly found in Teotihuacan’s iconography rather than that of the Mayas.
As the archaeological team continued their work at the site, they discovered two bodies interred beneath the altar: one likely being an adult male and the other a small child aged around 2 to 4 years, positioned in a manner more typical of Teotihuacan’s burial customs. Surrounding the altar, additional remains of three infants were also found, again suggesting similar burial practices aligning with those recorded in Teotihuacan. However, researchers have not determined the causes of these infants’ deaths.
The evidence collected points toward a growing influence of Teotihuacan in Tikal, emphasizing the cultural impact it had on this Mayan city. Notably, the decision of the Maya to bury this altar and the related structures, rather than constructing over them as they routinely did, indicates a complex relationship filled with ambivalence towards Teotihuacan. Andrew Scherer, another co-author and professor of anthropology and archaeology at Brown, explained that the burial could symbolize memorialization or an acknowledgment of the site’s significance, suggesting deeper feelings that the Maya harbored about their powerful neighbor.
Intriguingly, this discovery adds another layer to the historical understanding of the relationship between the Maya and Teotihuacan. In the 1960s, researchers had previously unearthed artifacts, including a stone with inscriptions that described hostilities between the two cultures, indicating that around AD 378, Teotihuacan might have effectively taken control of a Mayan kingdom by replacing its lider with a figure loyal to them.
The altar likely dates back to that tumultuous period of transition. Scherer posited that the discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing interplay and competition among empires throughout history. Houston’s reflections encapsulate this dynamic, noting the continued importance of cultural influence, power, and resources, such as jade, chocolate, and tropical bird feathers, which made the Maya region attractive to central Mexican powers like Teotihuacan. Indeed, this latest excavation continues to resonate with themes of imperial ambition and the profound impact of cultural exchanges.
