Skeletons unearthed from the ruins of the ancient city of Copán in Honduras have yielded clues to the collapse of the Mayan civilisation.

Copán, now a Unesco World Heritage site, thrived during the Classic Maya period between the third and 10th centuries AD.

Previous research has shown that it was a major crossroads city for four centuries, connecting the lower Central America to South America.

“In 426 or 427CE, the city witnessed the establishment of a royal dynasty, which endured for about 400 years,” according to a new study published in the journal Current Biology.

Excavations at the ruins have so far focused on a royal tomb where rulers were likely buried along with sacrificial victims. But the genetic origins of the people of ancient Copán have been unclear.

The new genome study shows where this population most likely came from and reveals the city “dramatically shrank” around 1,200 years ago.

Researchers assessed genomes of seven human remains excavated at the Copán archaeological site, including a person who may have been the ancient city’s ruler.

The analysis also included DNA data from ancient Mayan sites in North, Central, and South America that have already been published in previous studies.

It revealed, for the first time, the origins and dynamics of the ancient city’s population during the Classic period, shedding more light on the civilisation’s collapse.

A sculpted stone is seen at Copan (AFP via Getty)

It found that the ancestral population of the Copan people interacted with northern regions, including those in Mexico and Belize. That the Maya people had connections with those in the central highlands of Mexico had only been theorised in the past.

The analysis also pointed to a strong genomic connection of the people of the Copán ruins with modern Maya, including the contemporary populations in the Andes, Brazil, and Argentina.

Tourists at the Copan ruins (AFP via Getty)

Another key finding from the study is that the population size of the Maya civilisation decreased vastly during the late Classic period.

This result corresponds to the period when other Classic Maya cities were also abandoned, researchers said. “A decline is also observable in the Andes at around the same time. Nevertheless, the population size in the Andes rebounded in later periods, possibly linked to the rise and expansion of the Inca civilisation,” they said.

A decline in the population density led to the eventual collapse of the Classic Maya civilisation, they concluded.

This was between the 9th and 11th centuries, a period marked by frequent severe droughts that contributed to civil conflict, societal instability, and eventual collapse.

“Estimates of effective population size suggest a decline at the end of the Classic period, when Classic Maya civilisation experienced widespread destabilisation and collapse,” the study noted.

Archaeologists say they have uncovered the remains of a nearly 3,000-year-old Maya complex, including sanctuaries, pyramids and a unique canal system, believed to have been part of an important ceremonial site in what is now Guatemala. The country’s culture minister says the new findings could shed more light on the ancient Maya culture.

New ‘urban triangle’ discovered

The complex consists of three previously unknown locations: Los Abuelos, Pental and Cambrayal.

Los Abuelos, which is Spanish for “The Grandparents”, is a newly unearthed city. Experts say it once stood about 13 miles from the important archaeological site of Uaxactún, near the Mexican border.

Archaeologists got the name from two human-like rock sculptures believed to represent an ancestral couple found at the site.

Los Abuelos is believed to have been built somewhere between 800 and 500 BCE and covers about six square miles.

In Pental, east of Los Abuelos, archaeologists also found a 108-foot-tall pyramid. At its peak are two preserved rooms featuring murals depicting various symbolic representations, according to Luis Rodrigo Carrillo, Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Culture and Sports.

At Cambrayal, about three miles away from “The Grandparents,” scientists also identified what they say are “unique” water canals inside a palace.

In a statement, Guatemala’s culture ministry said: “These sites form a previously unknown urban triangle whose existence we were unaware of until now.”

Unearthing the past

The Maya civilization endured for roughly 3,500 years, from around 2,000 BCE to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century CE. It flourished in what is now southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.

While the newly discovered ruins date back to the 8th century BCE, archaeologists say that they also shed new light on a “dramatic collapse” of the Maya civilization around the 9th century CE.

New discoveries of Maya sites like this are rare, but advancements in technology have made them possible.

In April, scientists discovered a 1,700-year-old altar containing human remains at Tikal. That find is being interpreted as proof of ties between the Maya and another pre-Hispanic culture separated by more than 800 miles. Although they were discovered in a ruined Maya city, archaeologists believe the altar was decorated by artists from Mexico’s ancient Teotihuacán area.

In recent years, scientists have also been able to detect previously unknown ancient sites using laser mapping technology. That technology has helped reveal the interconnectivity of Maya cities, towns and villages.

Archaeologists have uncovered a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city in Guatemala, revealing significant insights into the ancient civilization’s architecture and culture.

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A newly discovered ancient city is shedding light on the Mayan civilization, captivating archaeologists and historians alike. This remarkable find, reported on 2025-05-30 23:56:00, reveals insights into a society that thrived nearly 3,000 years ago.

5 Key Takeaways Newly discovered city reveals Mayan civilization insights

Archaeologists find ancient city in Guatemala

Remains of 3,000-year-old Mayan city unearthed

Significant Maya complex includes pyramids and canals

Multiple news outlets report on discoveries

Unearthed in the Guatemalan jungle, the site features impressive structures, including pyramids and intricate canals, showcasing the advanced engineering skills of the Maya. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of the Mayan culture but also highlights the significance of preserving archaeological sites worldwide.

Fast Answer: A 3,000-year-old Mayan city discovered in Guatemala offers vital insights into ancient civilization, emphasizing the importance of archaeological preservation for global heritage.

This discovery raises essential questions about how we interpret ancient societies. What can we learn about the social structures and daily lives of the Maya from this site? The findings suggest a complex urban environment that thrived long before European contact.

Advanced engineering techniques evident in city structures.

Potential for further discoveries in the surrounding area.

Importance of archaeological preservation for future generations.

This discovery highlights the global importance of archaeology in understanding human history and preserving cultural heritage.

As we uncover more about ancient civilizations, it becomes crucial to support archaeological efforts worldwide. How will future discoveries shape our understanding of history?

Hidden Mayan altar used to sacrifice children unearthed in abandoned ‘city of the gods’

An ancient altar has been ncovered in Tikal National Park in Guatemala that is believed to shed light on how Mayan and Teotihuacan cultures interacted thousands of years ago

The altar is belived to have been used for child sacrifices (Image: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture a )

An ancient altar has been unearthed that is believed to have been used to sacrifice children in an abandoned ‘city of the gods’.

The Teotihuacan altar was uncovered in Tikal National Park in Guatemala – believed to be the centre of Mayan civilisation. Archaeologists were stunned by the discovery, which they hope can shed new light on how the ancient cultures interacted. Guatemala’s Culture and Sports Ministry announced the incredible discovery yesterday, saying it was made within the ancient city of Tikal.

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The altar is just over 1m wide from east to west and nearly 2m from north to south (Image: Guatemalan Ministry of Culture a )

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The archaeologist who led the discovery, Lorena Paiz, said the Teotihuacan altar was believed to have been used for sacrifices – “especially of children”. Remains of children no older than four were found around the sides of the altar, which took archaeologists a year and a half to uncover and analyse before the announcement.

“The remains of three children not older than four years were found on three sides of the altar,” Ms Paiz said. She explained: “The Teotihuacan were traders from all over the country.

“The Teotihuacan residential complexes were houses with rooms and in the centre altars; that’s what the residence that was found is like, with an altar with the figure representing the Storm Goddess.”

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The discovery was announced by Guatemala on Monday (Image: AP )

Edwin Román, who is leading the South Tikal Archaeological Project within the park, explained that the discovery showed the sociopolitical and cultural interaction between the Maya of Tikal and the elite of Teotihuacan between 300 and 500CE. Tikal was the ceremonial centre of the ancient Maya civilisation, starting out as a small village before blossoming into an important ceremonial centre with the construction of major pyramids and temples. Eventually, it grew into an enormous city-state, battling for centuries with the Kaanul dynasty for dominance of the Maya world.

Meanwhile, Teotihuacan lay far to the north in Mexico, just outside modern-day Mexico City. Known as ‘the city of the gods’ or ‘the place where men become gods’ it is best known for its twin Temples of the Sun and Moon. Mr Román said the discovery also reinforces the idea that Tikal was a cosmopolitan centre, where people visited from other cultures, reinforcing its importance as a centre of cultural convergence at the time.

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Tikal was the ceremonial centre of the ancient Maya civilisation (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto )

María Belén Méndez was not involved with the project, but the archaeologist said the discovery confirms “that there has been an interconnection between both cultures and what their relationships with their gods and celestial bodies was like.” She said: “We see how the issue of sacrifice exists in both cultures. It was a practice; it’s not that they were violent, it was their way of connecting with the celestial bodies.”

The altar is just over 1m wide from east to west and nearly 2m from north to south. It stands about 1m tall and is covered with limestone. The dwelling where it was found had anthropomorphic figures with tassels in red tones, a detail from the Teotihuacan culture.

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Teotihuacan was a densley populated city, home to more than 100,000 people, coveriing just eight square miles. At its peak, between 100 BC and AD 750, the mysterious city was one of the largest in the world, but it was abandoned before the rise of the Aztecs in the 14th Century.