Ancient DNA recovered from 64 individuals whose remains sat underground for centuries is shedding light on their family lineages and exposure to disease.
An underground chamber near Chichén Itzá’s Sacred Cenote was found to contain the bones of 64 male children, new research reveals. Genetic tests revealed that at least one-quarter of the children were closely related to at least one other in the chamber and had similar diets as one another, indicating that members of the same family were sacrificed over 500 years ago.
Researchers have previously speculated that the children deposited in the cenote were sacrificed as offerings to help the growth of maize or to please the Maya rain deity Chaac.
Maya Civilization Chichen Itza Moon Mesoamerican Ballgame Rodrigo Barquera Chultun Cenote Human Sacrifice Cristina Verdugo Chichén Archaeoastronomy Gizmodo
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