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Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Mayan complex that lasted nearly three,000 years in Guatemala, revealing a unique canal system that can shed even more light on sanctuaries, pyramids and ancient civilizations, the country’s culture minister said Thursday.
The complex was found at three sites: Los Abueros, Petonal and Kambrayal, near the important Mayan site in the Ukyactan area in the Peten region of northern Guatemala, the ministry said in a statement.
The Mayan civilization occurred around 2,000 BC, reaching 400-900 AD, mainly in Mexico and Guatemala. At that height, people built temples, roads, pyramids and other monuments, developing complex systems of writing, mathematics and astronomy.
Los Abueros, meaning “grandparents” in Spanish, is about 13 miles (21 kilometers) from Uaxactún and takes its name from two human-like rock statues found on a site believed to represent “ancestral couples.”
These figures, along with some sacred sanctuaries, suggest that it is an important place for Mayan rituals, said Luis Rodrigo Carrillo, vice minister of culture and sports in Guatemala, at a press conference to announce the findings.
“At the place here, one of the most important ritual centres in the region, it has a prominent sanctuary and will help us reassess our understanding of Mayan history,” the ministry said in a video announcing the discoveries.
East of Los Abueros is the Petanal, which features a 33m (108ft) high pyramid. At its peak there are two preserved rooms decorated with murals depicting various iconic representations, Carrillo said.
In Cambrayal, scientists, about three miles (4.8 kilometers) from Los Abueros, also identified “unique” water pipes within the palace, marking notable findings, the ministry said.
“These sites form previously unknown urban triangles that we had never existed before. These new archaeological discoveries constitute evidence of the greatness of Mayan culture.
The discovery was supported by Guatemala and Slovak archaeologists, along with international experts, as part of the Uaxactún Regional Archaeology Project (PARU) and by Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, officials said.
Although rare, new Mayan sites can sometimes be discovered thanks to new research and improvements in technology.
In April, archaeologists discovered a mysterious, 1,700-year-old altar containing human remains in the nearby ancient city of Tikal, about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of Uakatokun. It was discovered in the devastated city of Maya, but archaeologists believe it was not decorated by the Mayans, but instead was the work of a trained artist hundreds of miles away in Teotihuacan.
Scientists in recent years have also used laser mapping technology to detect new sites, revealing the interconnectivity of Mayan cities, towns and villages.