In a striking archaeological find, an altar from the ancient Teotihuacan culture has been unearthed at Tikal National Park in Guatemala, revealing ancient exchanges between influential civilizations. Announced by Guatemala’s Culture and Sports Ministry, this discovery in the heart of Mayan territory illustrates profound interactions between the Mayan people and the Teotihuacans, a cultural powerhouse of central Mexico.
Tikal, an enormous city revered for its soaring temples set amid dense jungle, was historically engaged in a fierce rivalry with the Kaanul dynasty for supremacy within the Maya realm. Meanwhile, Teotihuacan, renowned for its magnificent Sun and Moon Temples, stood far to the north, near the outskirts of modern-day Mexico City. Once bustling with a population exceeding 100,000 and sprawling across 8 square miles (20 square kilometers), this prehistoric metropolis dominated the landscape between 100 B.C. and A.D. 750 before being mysteriously abandoned ahead of the Aztec ascendancy in the 14th century.
Lorena Paiz, the archaeologist responsible for the landmark discovery, explained that the Teotihuacan altar appears to have served sacrificial purposes, emphasizing the sacrificial rituals endemic to both cultures. She noted the discovery of the remains of three children, each under the age of four, surrounding the altar, lending insight into the sacrificial practices at the time.
Paiz further elaborated that the Teotihuacan were extensive traders and established residential complexes throughout the region, characterized by central altars—mirrored by the newly discovered structure that features the Storm Goddess. The excavation and analysis of the residential site and altar took archaeologists a labor-intensive 18 months before it could be formally announced to the public.
Edwin Román, leading the South Tikal Archaeological Project, remarked that the recent uncovering underscores the sociopolitical and cultural dialogues between Tikal’s Maya and Teotihuacan elites around the period of 300 to 500 A.D. This discovery affirms Tikal’s status during that era as a bustling cosmopolitan hub, drawing people from diverse cultures and acting as a pivotal point of cultural synthesis.
Recognizing the importance of these findings, MarÃa Belén Méndez, an archaeologist not involved in the discovery, shared her observations, indicating the maintained interconnectedness and shared religious and celestial practices between the two civilizations. She highlighted that sacrificial rites were integral to both cultures not as acts of violence, but as profound spiritual expressions binding them closer to the celestial realm.
The altar, measuring just over a yard (1 meter) wide and nearly 2 yards (2 meters) from north to south with a height of about a yard (1 meter), is adorned with limestone. The living quarters housing this altar featured anthropomorphic figures with bright red tassels—an emblematic feature of Teotihuacan artistry.
Tikal National Park, located approximately 325 miles (525 kilometers) north of Guatemala City, treasures this remarkable finding within a secured site without forthcoming plans for public access.