Your Ultimate Guide to Ancient Maya Temples
Science Discoveries delivers concise, source-linked summaries of the latest peer-reviewed studies and field breakthroughs. We spotlight what researchers uncover—our role is to report, not to conduct the experiments.
LiDAR scans of newly mapped Ocomtún alongside classic sites Tikal, Edzná and Palenque reveal hidden reservoirs, canals and zeolite sand filters. These hydraulic networks blended engineering, ritual and power, shaping Maya city planning, agriculture and myth in the tropical lowlands for centuries of sustainable prosperity.
Jüngste DNA-Analysen enthüllen Maya-Kontinuität trotz Kollaps: Kinder-Opferknaben in Chichén Itzá bestätigen den Hero-Twins-Mythos; Copán-Genome belegen mexikanische Einwanderung ab 400 n. Chr. PSMC-Modelle zeigen Bevölkerungshöhepunkt 730 n. Chr., gefolgt von dramatischem Einbruch. Krankheiten nach 1500 selektierten schützende HLA-Varianten.
Archaeologists have unearthed the tomb of Caracol’s founding king, Te K’ab Chaak (c. 350 AD), packed with jadeite finery, obsidian blades, and ritual pottery—proof of early Maya-Teotihuacan ties that reshapes Belize’s dynastic timeline and marks Caracol’s most significant find in 40 years.
It was after midnight when doctoral student Luke Auld-Thomas stumbled upon a forgotten 2013 LiDAR scan of southern Campeche. Stripping away the jungle canopy on his laptop, he watched 6,500 ghost-white structures surface across nearly 50 square miles—a metropolis later christened Valeriana, hiding in plain sight beside Highway 261. Follow Auld-Thomas’s “Google-Earth moment” as archival laser data rewrites Maya geography, reveals twin monumental precincts, a dammed reservoir and population estimates of 30–50 thousand—rivaling Calakmul. Paired with the deep-jungle find of Ocomtún, the discovery proves LiDAR can unveil both highway-adjacent megacities and wilderness strongholds. Dive in to see how ancient urban engineering is inspiring today’s climate-resilient design—and why ethical tourism matters more than ever.
Tiny pulses of light from the sky are rewriting everything we thought we knew about the Maya. Introduction Hidden beneath the dense rain‑forest canopy of Mesoamerica lie countless temples, causeways, terraces, and reservoirs—silent witnesses...
A newly uncovered Teotihuacán altar in Tikal’s 6D-XV complex—complete with Pachuca-obsidian blade and child-sacrifice deposit—offers the first intact highland cult site in the Maya Lowlands. Explore its political intrigue, timeline, on-site highlights and practical tips for planning your own jungle visit.
Hidden for 3,000 years beneath Guatemala’s Petén canopy, the newly revealed Los Abuelos Maya city—part of a perfect triangular network with Petnal and Cambrayal—boasts grand-parent statues, a solar-aligned “Group E” observatory and jungle canals. Discover what the find means for Maya history—and how adventurous travellers can explore the region.
2000-Year Old Pyramid and 30 Burials discovered in Veracruz – México – 2013/07/12 In the news: A 2000-year old pyramid and 30 burials were discovered in Jaltipan in Veracruz, México. The pyramid has a...
Chactun – New discovery of a lost Maya city – Amazing Temples and Pyramids – 2013/07/03 This is just a short post: After 1000 years hidden in the forest a new finding of a...
