An surreptitious chamber near Chichén Itzá ’s Sacred Cenote was ascertain to comprise the ivory of 64 manly children , new enquiry let out . hereditary tests revealed that at least one - quarter of the children were tight related to at least one other in the chamber and had standardised diets as one another , indicating that members of the same family were sacrifice over 500 geezerhood ago .
The research was conducted by a squad of archaeologists , anthropologists , geneticists , and immunologists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology . Their findings contrast from democratic ideas about the hundreds of remains in the Sacred Cenote — a natural limestone sink occupy with water — which colonial and early twentieth century accounts evoke were primarily those of youthful women and girl . ( Morerecent analysesof the clappers in the cenote indicate both male and female were deposited there . ) The team ’s research waspublishedtoday in Nature .
“ We rule a somehow unexpected all - male inhumation . The carbon 14 dates of the [ gathering ] twosome at least 500 long time , mean that this ritual was sustained for at least half a millennium , ” state Rodrigo Barquera , an immunologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the study ’s lead author , in an e-mail to Gizmodo .
El Castillo, one of the largest structures at Chichén Itzá.Photo: Johannes Krause
The male corpse were recovered from the underground chamber , also known as a chultun , in 1967 . But only now was the team able to utilize carbon 14 dating to ascertain when the chultun was in use : close to between the other seventh one C and the mid - twelfth century . genic testing of 64 of the over 100 individuals find out in the chultun found that they were all male , and about 25 % of the essay Male were closely related .
Analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the stiff ’ os collagen reveal the dietary ingestion of the sacrifice victims , place to “ specific family ( probably those in positions of power ) being privileged with the opportunity to have their children included in the ritual interment , ” Barquera said .
As note by the researchers , the sacrificing of twin features conspicuously in Mayan mythology , and may be relate to the relations seen in the chultun remains . Subterranean features like the Sacred Cenote were widely regard as portals to the underworld and are associated with body of water and rain — indeed , crucial resource for an ancient society where failed crop could be withering . research worker have previously speculated that the children deposit in the cenote were sacrifice as offerings to help the increment of maize or to please the Maya rain deity Chaac .
Chichén Itzá’s Sacred Cenote.Photo:Salhedine
The result “ is not entirely surprising in that it mirrors findings in two study in Central Mexico with most of the victims at the Templo Mayor being manly and those at Tlatelolco being female , ” order Cristina Verdugo , a researcher at the University of California - Santa Cruz who was not affiliated with the recent study , in an e-mail to Gizmodo .
“ In my own work at Midnight Terror Cave the subadults were all female but my sample was very small ( 4 person ) , ” Verdugo added . “ I have proposed that the sex of the deity to whom the forfeiture is made may determine the sex of the dupe . ”
“ The report is also exciting in revealing aspects of the personal identity of sacrificed somebody that we never conceive of before , like rakehell relation and the counterpart , ” Verdugo added . “ The link between this sacred space , the practice of human sacrifice , and the bearing of twins , confront an interesting lens in which to count the Hero Twins myth and the potential office it played in the practice of human sacrifice . ” By Hero Twins myth , Verdugo is referring to the mythic Maya write up of twins stomach to a goddess who avenged their father ’s expiry by kill the Lords of Death ; the twin were then translate into the Sun and Moon , show in a new age .
A part of Chichén Itzá’s reconstructed skull rack (note the skulls).Photo: Johannes Krause
The squad behind the new study also compare the genetic science of the individuals in the chultun with present - day Maya , give away passel of genetic continuity across the centuries but some allele changes in genes relate to disease unsusceptibility , especially resistance to Salmonella enterica . Salmonella was previously identified as the cause of an intestinal fever discover in a colonial - era mass grave in Oaxaca , itself consort with a 1545 pandemic .
“ Even though there is genetic persistence in the region between the the great unwashed who once dwell Chichén Itzá and the present - Clarence Day Mayans from nearby community , they carry the signatures of adaptation to new diet and diseases that come to the area after the conquest , ” Barquera added .
Chichén Itzá was one of the liveliest situation to be for about 500 year , until colonist arrived in force . But if you were a young boy or fille — peculiarly one from a well - to - do kinsfolk — it seems it was one of the deadliest , too .
More : Ritual Offerings , Hallucinogenic industrial plant set up Under Ancient Maya Ball Court
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