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Maya civilization’s roots may lie in ritual

Guatemalan finds point to ancient cultural interactions across a wide territory

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Ancient Maya civilization was born of public rituals devised several thousand years ago as a result of mingling among groups spread across what’s now southern Mexico and Guatemala.

STANDING ON CEREMONY After excavating through layers of construction at an ancient Maya site in Guatemala, researchers found a ritual plaza from around 3,000 years ago.