Mayan child sacrifices buried with ‘supernatural’ obsidian

From building cities aligned with stars to purposefully crossing their babies’ eyes, the Mayan civilisation was known for its strange rituals.

And a new study has shed light on perhaps one of the weirdest rituals undertaken by the ancient civilisation – child sacrifices.

Researchers have discovered 42 obsidian ritual stones in the ancient Mayan city of Ceibal, Guatemala, some of which were found in the graves of child sacrifices.

The findings suggest that the precious rocks were thought to hold spiritual or ‘supernatural’ powers for Mayan people.

 

During their excavation, the researchers discovered obsidian stones in a grave containing two children aged two to four, who had been buried face-to-face, suggesting they had been sacrificed

THE OBSIDIAN STONES

During their excavation, the researchers discovered obsidian stones in a grave containing two children aged two to four, who had been buried face-to-face, suggesting they had been sacrificed.

They also found the precious stones placed at the points of a compass in the burial of a further five child sacrifices, who ranged in age from one to four.

Aside from graves, obsidian artefacts were also found in cross-shaped holes in the ground (caches), along the east-west axis of the main square in Ceibal.

The findings suggest that the precious rocks were thought to hold spiritual or ‘supernatural’ powers for Mayan people. 

Researchers from Ibaraki University in Japan discovered the stones while excavating the site in the north of Guatemala.

Ceibal was first investigated in the 1960s by archaeologists from Harvard University, but researchers have now returned to the site, equipped with more modern technologies.

During their excavation, the researchers discovered obsidian stones in a grave containing two children aged two to four, who had been buried face-to-face, suggesting they had been sacrificed.

They also found the precious stones placed at the points of a compass in the burial of a further five child sacrifices, who ranged in age from one to four.

Human sacrifice was a key part of Mayan culture.

The civilisation saw blood as a potent source of nourishment for Mayan gods, and sacrificing a human was seen as the ultimate offering to the deities.

Aside from graves, obsidian artefacts were also found in cross-shaped holes in the ground (caches), along the east-west axis of the main square in Ceibal

Aside from graves, obsidian artefacts were also found in cross-shaped holes in the ground (caches), along the east-west axis of the main square in Ceibal

MAYAN HUMAN SACRIFICE 

The Mayan people believed underworld of caves were home to gods that controlled rainfall and crops.

They would give gifts of corn, maize and animals to these gods, typically in ceramic bowls, in the hope the gods would return the favour.

However, there are also reports of human sacrifices in the Mayan culture.

Many Mayan people believed humans were made from corn or maize, for example, so thought they were ‘feeding’ the gods by killing the humans.

Mayan artwork, for example, shows signs of such sacrifices dating back to the Classic period of 250AD.

It is also referenced in hieroglyphic and colonial texts.

Elsewhere many archaeologists have found evidence and human remains in caves across Belize.

Young children and women were seen as the purest members of society and were often sacrificed to please the gods in the hope the deities would improve the health of a certain member of the group, or improve the overall fortune of the community.

In many instances the hearts of the sacrificed people were extracted and presented to the gods separately, as was blood.

Sacrificial humans were often painted blue to symbolise that they were being killed for the gods and not killed for another purpose.

This paint was said to have stayed on the bodies as they were accepted by the gods to make sacrificial bodies instantly recognisable.

These were meant to ‘aid in the rebirth and renewal of the harvest and life cycles’, according to ThoughtCo. 

Children were sometimes used as sacrificial victims.

Incas used children because they were seen as the purest beings, but that it’s unclear if this was the same for the Mayans. 

The Mayans used a range of ways to kill the human sacrifice, but the most common method was decapitation and heart extraction. 

Aside from graves, obsidian artefacts were also found in cross-shaped holes in the ground (caches), along the east-west axis of the main square in Ceibal.

In their study, published in the Journal of Field Archaeology, the researchers, led by Dr Kazuo Aoyama, wrote: ‘The inhabitants of Ceibal engaged in various kinds of craft production, including the manufacture of obsidian prismatic blades.

‘They also conducted public rituals in the Central Plaza, depositing exhausted polyhedral obsidian cores and other artefacts with symbolic significance in caches and as offerings in incipient elite burials and interments of sacrificed individuals.’

The researchers believe that these public rituals were important for creating collective identities and for processes of political negotiation within the community. 

The researchers found the precious stones placed at the points of a compass in the burial of a further five child sacrifices, who ranged in age from one to four

The researchers found the precious stones placed at the points of a compass in the burial of a further five child sacrifices, who ranged in age from one to four

Researchers have discovered 42 obsidian ritual stones in the ancient Mayan city of Ceibal, Guatemala, some of which were found in the graves of child sacrifices

Researchers have discovered 42 obsidian ritual stones in the ancient Mayan city of Ceibal, Guatemala, some of which were found in the graves of child sacrifices

The researchers believe that public rituals involving obsidian were important for creating collective identities and for processes of political negotiation within the community

The researchers believe that public rituals involving obsidian were important for creating collective identities and for processes of political negotiation within the community

They added: ‘Emerging elites likely came to play an increasingly important role in public rituals as principal performers and organisers, setting the stage for later public events centred on rulers.’

In May, the researchers discovered a treasure trove of jade artefacts in 18 cross-shaped holes in Ceibal.   

The findings represent the largest single haul of the precious artefacts ever found dating back to the early Mayan era. 

In May, the researchers discovered a treasure trove of jade artefacts in 18 cross-shaped holes in Ceibal. The findings represent the largest single haul of the precious artefacts ever found dating back to the early Mayan era

In May, the researchers discovered a treasure trove of jade artefacts in 18 cross-shaped holes in Ceibal. The findings represent the largest single haul of the precious artefacts ever found dating back to the early Mayan era

Researchers from Ibaraki University in Japan discovered the stones while excavating the ancient Mayan city of Ceibal in the north of Guatemala

Researchers from Ibaraki University in Japan discovered the stones while excavating the ancient Mayan city of Ceibal in the north of Guatemala

The celts were found next to a large ceremonial structure in the central plaza in Ceibal, suggesting that they may have been used in ceremonies or rituals.

Using microscopes to look at the celts in further detail, the researchers found that the surface of the artefacts did not seem to have been worn down by fabrics, indicating that they weren’t worn as jewellery or ornaments.

The findings reinforce the idea that the sun was of extreme importance to the Mayans, as many of the celts were buried aligned with the points of the compass. 

MAYAN SOCIETY AND THE STARS

Mayan civilisation thrived for more than 2,000 years with its heyday being 300 to 900 AD.

During that time, the ancient people built incredible cities using advanced machinery and gained an understanding of astronomy, as well as developing advanced agricultural methods and accurate calendars.

The Maya believed the cosmos shaped their everyday lives and they used astrological cycles to tell when to plant crops and set their calendars.

This has led to theories that the Maya may have chosen to locate their cities in line with the stars.

It is already known that the pyramid at Chichen Itza was built according to the sun’s location during the spring and autumn equinoxes.

When the sun sets on these two days, the pyramid casts a shadow on itself that aligns with a carving of the head of the Mayan serpent god.

The shadow makes the serpent’s body so that as the sun sets, the terrifying god appears to slide towards the earth.

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