A team of archaeologists has uncovered a significant find in Tikal, Guatemala. This altar, which was buried under the jungle floor for centuries, reveals a complex picture of Maya life during a turbulent period marked by interaction with the mighty Teotihuacan civilization.
A Masterpiece Of Ancient Artistry
According to Popular Science, the altar itself is a remarkable example of Maya craftsmanship, featuring four panels painted in red, black, and yellow. These panels depict a figure wearing a feathered headdress near shields and regalia, reminiscent of the representations of a Maya deity known as the “Storm God.”
“It’s increasingly clear that this was an extraordinary period of turbulence at Tikal,” said Stephen Houston, a study co-author and archaeologist at Brown University. “What the altar confirms is that wealthy leaders from Teotihuacan came to Tikal and created replicas of ritual facilities that would have existed in their home city. It shows Teotihuacan left a heavy imprint there.”
The Rise Of Tikal And Its Interaction With Teotihuacan
As Tikal flourished, it came into contact with Teotihuacan, a powerful city-state located over 600 miles away, near present-day Mexico City.
Teotihuacan, known for its grand temples and bustling population, was a force to be reckoned with in the region during its peak between 100 BCE and 750 A.D.
The two cities, initially trading, soon found themselves in more strained interactions. Houston noted,“It’s almost as if Tikal poked the beast and got too much attention from Teotihuacan. “That’s when foreigners started moving into the area.”
Maya Rituals Revealed
According to Lorena Paiz, the archaeologist who led the discovery, “The remains of three children not older than 4 years were found on three sides of the altar.” This suggests that the altar may have been used for ritual sacrifice, a practice deeply embedded in Teotihuacan’s religious and cultural traditions.
The Impact of Teotihuacan’s Presence on Tikal
The Maya city-state likely experienced significant disruptions due to Teotihuacan’s influence. “The Maya regularly buried buildings and rebuilt on top of them,” explained Andrew Scherer, a study co-author.
“But here, they buried the altar and surrounding buildings and just left them, even though this would have been prime real estate centuries later. They treated it almost like a memorial or a radioactive zone.”
This unusual burial suggests that the Maya may have had complex and possibly negative feelings about Teotihuacan’s presence in Tikal.
The Legacy Of Teotihuacan’s Influence
Despite the conflicts and challenges Tikal faced during this period, the city’s relationship with Teotihuacan ultimately helped shape its future.
Houston remarked, “There’s a kind of nostalgia about that time, when Teotihuacan was at the height of its power and taking increasing interest in the Maya.” Tikal, although weakened by Teotihuacan’s intervention, would later rise to become one of the most powerful and influential Maya city-states
Houston added, “Everyone knows what happened to the Aztec civilization after the Spanish arrived. Our findings show evidence that that’s a tale as old as time. These powers of central Mexico reached into the Maya world because they saw it as a place of extraordinary wealth, of special feathers from tropical birds, jade and chocolate. As far as Teotihuacan was concerned, it was the land of milk and honey.”
