Ancient Altar Unearthed in Guatemalan Jungle Suggests Child Sacrifice Archaeologists in Guatemala have announced the discovery of an ancient altar deep within the jungle, offering chilling evidence of ritual sacrifice, particularly of children.

The find, located in [Insert Location if known, otherwise: a remote area of the Guatemalan jungle], is believed to date back to [Insert Time Period, e.

g.

, the Classic Maya period].

The altar itself is [Describe the altar: material, size, condition, any carvings or decorations].

Initial examination reveals [Describe specific findings suggesting sacrifice, e.

g.

, traces of blood, burned bones consistent with human remains of various ages, offerings of specific artifacts].

The researchers are particularly concerned by [Describe the evidence indicating child sacrifice, e.

g.

, the size and number of smaller skeletal remains, the presence of specific artifacts associated with children's rituals in other Mayan sites].

“[Quote from a lead archaeologist expressing concern and detailing the findings],” stated [Archaeologist's Name and Title].

While human sacrifice has been documented in various ancient cultures, including the Maya, the scale and apparent frequency of child sacrifice suggested by this altar is disturbing.

This discovery highlights the complex and often brutal aspects of Mayan religious practices, challenging previous understandings and requiring further investigation.

The researchers caution against drawing hasty conclusions, emphasizing the importance of thorough analysis of the remains and artifacts before definitively determining the full extent of the rituals conducted at this site.

The team is currently conducting further excavation and analysis, employing [Mention techniques used for analysis, e.

g.

, radiocarbon dating, DNA analysis, anthropological examination].

Their hope is to not only learn more about the specific rituals performed at the altar but also to gain a deeper understanding of the social and political context in which these practices occurred.

The findings will likely contribute significantly to our understanding of Mayan civilization and the role of religion in their society.

The discovery also raises ethical considerations regarding the preservation and interpretation of such sensitive archaeological remains, prompting careful consideration of how this information is shared and utilized.

An altar from the Teotihuacan culture, at the pre-Hispanic heart of what became Mexico, was discovered in Tikal National Park in Guatemala, the center of , demonstrating the interaction between the two societies, Guatemala's Culture and Sports Ministry .

The enormous city-state of Tikal, whose towering temples still stand in the jungle, battled for centuries with the Kaanul dynasty for dominance of the Maya world.

Far to the north in Mexico, just outside present day Mexico City, Teotihuacan — "the city of the gods" or "the place where men become gods" — is best known for its twin Temples of the Sun and Moon. It was actually a large city that housed over 100,000 inhabitants and covered around 8 square miles.

The still mysterious city was one of the largest in the world at its peak between 100 B.C. and A.D. 750. But it was abandoned before the rise of the Aztecs in the 14th century.

Lorena Paiz, the archaeologist who led the discovery, said that the Teotihuacan altar was believed to have been used for sacrifices, "especially of children."

"The remains of three children not older than 4 years were found on three sides of the altar," Paiz told The Associated Press.

"The Teotihuacan were traders who traveled all over the country (Guatemala)," Paiz said. "The Teotihuacan residential complexes were houses with rooms and in the center altars; that's what the residence that was found is like, with an altar with the figure representing the Storm Goddess."

on social media showing aerial footage of the altar as well as detail of the structure's interior.

"It's something unique in Guatemala, nothing similar had been found," Paiz said in a .

It took archaeologists 1½ years to uncover the altar in a dwelling and analyze it before the announcement.

Edwin Román, who leads the South Tikal Archaeological Project within the park, said the discovery shows the sociopolitical and cultural interaction between the Maya of Tikal and Teotihuacan's elite between 300 and 500 A.D.

Román said the discovery also reinforces the idea that Tikal was a cosmopolitan center at that time, a place where people visited from other cultures, affirming its importance as a center of cultural convergence.

María Belén Méndez, an archaeologist who was not involved with the project, said the discovery confirms "that there has been an interconnection between both cultures and what their relationships with their gods and celestial bodies was like."

"We see how the issue of sacrifice exists in both cultures. It was a practice; it's not that they were violent, it was their way of connecting with the celestial bodies," she said.

The altar is just over a yard wide from east to west and about 2 yards from north to south. It is about a yard tall and covered with limestone.

The dwelling where it was found had anthropomorphic figures with tassels in red tones, a detail from the Teotihuacan culture, according to the ministry's statement.

The  in the archaeological journal Antiquity. 

The researchers made their announcement less than a year after a hidden Mayan city was  by a doctoral student who unknowingly drove past the site years ago on a visit to Mexico.

Tikal National Park is about 325 miles north of Guatemala City, and the discovery site is guarded and there are no plans to open it to the public. Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached its peak between 200 and 900 AD when Mayan culture encompassed parts of what are now Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.

Teotihuacan, famous for its pyramids of the sun and the moon, is located about 25 miles northeast of Mexico City. That culture reached its peak between 100 and 600 AD.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.