A remarkable discovery in northern Guatemala has unveiled a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan complex featuring pyramids, sanctuaries, and an extraordinary canal system, offering fresh insights into the ancient civilization’s engineering and cultural practices, according to Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports.

The newly found archaeological sites—Los Abuelos, Petnal, and Cambrayal—are situated close to the well-known Mayan city of Uaxactún, nestled in the Petén region. These findings highlight an advanced urban network previously unknown to researchers.

A Trio of Sites Revealing a Forgotten Urban Hub

Los Abuelos, translating to “The Grandparents,” lies about 13 miles from Uaxactún. It earned its name from two distinctive anthropomorphic rock sculptures thought to represent an ancestral couple, underscoring the site’s importance as a spiritual center. Along with these figures, several ritual sanctuaries discovered here point to the area’s significance in Mayan ceremonial life, explained Luis Rodrigo Carrillo, Guatemala’s vice minister of culture and sports.

Nearby Petnal is home to an impressive 33-meter-tall pyramid crowned by two chambers adorned with ancient murals. These murals showcase symbolic imagery, revealing a rich iconography that sheds light on Mayan religious and artistic expression.

At Cambrayal, located approximately three miles from Los Abuelos, archaeologists identified a unique network of water canals integrated within a palace complex. This innovative hydraulic system suggests the Mayans engineered sophisticated water management techniques far earlier than previously documented.

Unveiling a Lost Urban Triangle

Together, these three sites form an urban triangle that was completely unknown until this discovery. The ministry described the find as a “testament to the greatness of Mayan culture,” now being shared with the world.

The discovery adds to growing evidence of the vast complexity and interconnectedness of Mayan settlements. Recent surveys within the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin in northern Guatemala have identified nearly a thousand new settlements linked by an extensive web of causeways, painting a picture of a highly organized civilization with sprawling urban centers.

Collaboration and Cutting-Edge Technology

This discovery was made possible by a collaboration between Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists, supported by Comenius University in Slovakia, as part of the Uaxactún Regional Archaeological Project (PARU). Advances in research techniques, including laser mapping, have been crucial in revealing hidden structures and the sophisticated infrastructure of ancient Mayan society.

Such technological breakthroughs have enabled archaeologists to uncover previously invisible urban layouts and superhighways connecting cities, villages, and ceremonial centers.

Context Within Broader Mayan History

The Mayan civilization, which emerged around 2000 BCE and flourished between 400 and 900 CE, is renowned for its monumental architecture, intricate writing systems, advanced mathematics, and astronomy. The new findings near Uaxactún enrich this legacy by revealing early urban planning and ceremonial practices that predate many well-known Mayan sites.

Just last month, archaeologists also uncovered a mysterious 1,700-year-old altar with human remains in the ancient city of Tikal, not far from Uaxactún. Interestingly, this altar’s artistic style suggests influence from Teotihuacan, a powerful city located hundreds of miles away, hinting at broader cultural exchanges within Mesoamerica.

A New Chapter in Mayan Archaeology

These fresh discoveries mark a significant step forward in understanding the early stages of Mayan urbanism and social complexity. As research continues, experts hope to unravel more about how these ancient communities managed their environment, maintained religious traditions, and interacted across vast distances.

The revelation of this nearly 3,000-year-old complex is a vivid reminder of the Mayan civilization’s enduring influence and sophistication, promising to reshape how we view one of the Americas’ most fascinating ancient cultures.