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An astonishing discovery about Mayan Sacrifices in Chichen Itza that you probably haven’t heard of!
At Chichen Itza, it’s well-known that the ancient Mayans performed human sacrifices as part of their cultural practices, viewing them as an honor due to their deep-rooted ideologies. These human sacrifices, conducted during sacred rituals overseen by priests, were considered a significant aspect of Mayan civilization.
As you might already know, the Mayans had numerous methods for performing these sacrifices, with human offerings in cenotes being among the most memorable. However, recent investigations into the remains found at Chichen Itza have provided fascinating new insights into this important civilization.
Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its architectural marvels such as the Temple of Kukulkan, the Great Ball Court, the Observatory, and, notably, the Sacred Cenote.
As mentioned, recent DNA analyses were conducted on human remains found near the Sacred Cenote, approximately 400 meters away. This location is a subterranean chamber known as a ‘chultun,’ discovered in 1967 in the Yucatan region, where the bones of around 64 individuals were unearthed.
The DNA results revealed astonishing findings, showing that the remains belonged to young boys between the ages of 3 and 6, who were closely related to another boy in the chultun, possibly twin brothers or close relatives.
These findings suggest a possible connection to the Twin Heroes of Mayan mythology, a legendary tale of two twin brothers who descend into the underworld to avenge their father’s death.
Moreover, it’s noteworthy that these sacrificed children shared the same genetic lineage as the current Mayan population in Tixcacaltuyub, a village near Chichen Itza.
The research team also uncovered that diseases introduced by European colonizers left a significant biological imprint on the immune systems of the local inhabitants. Their study revealed that the current indigenous population possesses genetic variants that may have offered increased protection against Salmonella infection, a pathogen believed to have caused the devastating Cocoliztli epidemic in 1545.
Initially, it was believed that Mayan sacrifices were limited to women and warriors during the Ball Game. However, DNA results from new studies at Chichen Itza have shown that young children, including twins, were also subjected to these rituals.
Although the exact reason for these child sacrifices remains unclear, it is thought that they were offerings to Mayan deities and part of their religious beliefs.
These findings also provide crucial insights into the immunity of our ancestors and their experiences with epidemics.