Your Ultimate Guide to Ancient Maya Temples
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.
Recent DNA analyses reveal Maya continuity despite the “collapse”: boys sacrificed at Chichén Itzá corroborate the Hero Twins myth; Copán genomes indicate in-migration from Mexico beginning around AD 400. PSMC models show a population peak around AD 730, followed by a dramatic decline. Post-1500 diseases selected for protective HLA variants.
Copán, once a vibrant center of the Classic Maya world, offers visitors a unique journey through 400 years of dynastic history, 2,200 intricately carved glyphs, and groundbreaking modern archaeological research. Discover its dramatic past—from royal rivalries and monumental architecture to high-tech investigations reshaping our understanding of Maya civilization.
