In the heart of the dense jungle Guatemalteca, an exceptional discovery interrupted the silence of the story: a Small altar in teotihuacan styleremaining hidden for over 1,500 years, emerged from the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Tikalbringing questions, suggestions and new answers on a shared past with him. Just over a meter high, this altar has been painted with colored faces, sacred symbols and details that have nothing to do with local art. Surprisingly, everything speaks the language of the distant Teotihuacan, the enigmatic metropolis which, in the fifth century, dominated the heart of central Mexico.
The small altar was discovered inside the 6D-XV groupan ancient residential courtyard reserved for Tikal’s elites. Yet, nothing in it is properly “Maya”. The Four painted facesalbeit worn by time, are clearly inspired by the iconic style of Teotihuacan: front visits, vivid colors such as red, yellow and black, feathered headdresses, symbolic shields. The very structure of the altar, built according to the Toulud-Tablero architectural modelis a trademark of Mexican culture.
It is not a local imitation, but of an original workcreated by those who perfectly knew the artistic and ritual techniques of Teotihuacan. It is as if a piece of that distant city had been transplanted, with all its meanings, in the heart of the jungle.
Radioocarbon analyzes dated the altar between the 400 and 550 ADin the middle of the time called “Entrance”, In which a mysterious person known as Spearthrower Owl (“Gufo Lanciallunga”) – Perhaps an emissary, perhaps a conqueror – would have come from Teotihuacan to establish a new dynasty in Tikal. The discovery seems to confirm that the influence Teotihuacana went well beyond the political sphere.
Buried around the altar
But the story does not end there. Around the altar the remains of four childrenall with less than four years, buried on three of the sides of the structure. One of the small victims had been burned and positioned sittingwith the arms collected towards the chest: a posture that recalls the funerary rituals observed in the houses of Teotihuacan in a disturbing way.
Second Lorena Paizthe archaeologist who guided the excavations, the entire complex is very similar to Teotihuacane ritual residenceswhere families built central altars and buried their dead, often with votive offers.
And also to Tikal, the offers are not lacking: grooved vases, containers with pinched edges, fragments of incense burners and one Green Obidiana bladematerial coming from the center of Mexico. A surprising detail is the circular hole obtained on the altar, probably to host a Disk or a ritual mirrornow disappeared. The entire structure was then deliberately buried under stones and rubblein what archaeologists define a “termination” rituala symbolic act that could coincide with the Decline of Teotihuacan same.
More than an influence
So what did a Teotihuacan -style altar do in the middle of a Mayan residence? To respond we must abandon the modern idea of rigid boundaries. Teotihuacan, in the 4th and 5th century, was one of the largest cities on the planet: over 100,000 inhabitantsimposing pyramids, majestic avenues, a cultural influence that extended to Honduras.
Tikal was one of the most powerful centers in the Mayan world, but not immune to the charm – and perhaps to the pressure – of that foreign power. The previous discoveries, such as the Stela del Marcadorthey already spoke of the presence of Teotihuacani emissaries in Tikal. Now, this small altar immersed in the daily life of an elitist group shows that the influence went far beyond politics: he rooted in the houses, in rites, in sacred symbols.
Scholars hypothesize two scenarios: it may be a real foreign colony – An outpost, perhaps diplomatic or military. Or, more likely, one Conscious choice of Maya eliteswho adopted symbols, styles and rites of Teotihuacan for strengthen their prestige and authority. Like a political and spiritual fashion, in which power is also expressed through The foreign language of art.
What is certain is that the altar of the 6D-XV group It is much more than an archaeological find. Is one Viva testimony of a forgotten connection, of a meeting between worlds, visions, divinities and rituals. An altar that, in its silent power, continues to tell of buried children, of the rain, hybrid identity and shared cosmologies.
Discovery, details and images of the study were published in the scientific journal Antiquity.
