A stalagmite analysis from a cave in Mexico provides detailed evidence of a severe drought that played a key role in the collapse of the Maya civilization around 1,000 years ago.

Maya Collapse: 13-Year Drought Crippled Civilization Yucatan Peninsula 1,000 Years Ago: Study

In 1967, an underground cistern known as a chultun was discovered near a sacred body of water at Chichen Itza, an important ancient Maya city on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Skeletal remains of more than 100 children were found inside.

Now, DNA obtained from 64 of them is offering insight into child sacrifice at Chichen Itza in the centuries before Europeans reached the New World. Those entombed were all boys - some of them brothers, including two sets of identical twins - killed during religious rituals, scientists said on Wednesday. Most were ages 3 to 6.

Most were interred in the mass grave during the pinnacle of Chichen Itza's political and cultural clout, from about 800 AD to 1000 AD, though some were buried in the centuries before and after that, covering a 500-year span ending at around 1100.

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Twins figure prominently in ancient Maya religion and art, and sacrificing twins is described in sacred writings, including a book called the Popol Vuh. The Mayan Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, underwent cycles of sacrifice and resurrection as they confronted gods of the underworld. Subterranean structures like the chultun were considered entrances to the underworld, central to Maya cosmogony.

"Ritual sacrifice was a common practice among ancient Mesoamerican populations. However, the biological relationships between the sacrificed individuals had not been described before," said archaeogeneticist Rodrigo Barquera of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Germany, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

"We think that the people from Chichen Itza were trying to symbolically replicate the Mayan mythological stories and the representation of the twin heroes in this ritual burial," Barquera added. "For Maya, and Mesoamerican cultures in general, death is the ultimate offering, and as such, sacrifices bear high importance to their beliefs system."

Chichen Itza is known for its stunning architecture, including an impressive pyramid structure now called El Castillo. Nearby is a sacred water-filled sinkhole called a cenote, where the bodies of more than 200 people were found. And close to that is the chultun where the boys were buried.

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"The original purpose of chultuns was to store fresh water. This one had been repurposed into a funerary chamber adjacent to a small natural cave. Both the chultun and the cave were filled with human remains," Barquera said.

DNA was extracted from the petrous portion of the temporal bone, which houses the inner ear. This small bone has proven optimal in preserving ancient DNA.

"We sampled only the left portion because that would make sure we sampled every individual only once. It was not preserved for every individual in the chultun, therefore we sampled only a subset," said MPI-EVA archaeogeneticist and study co-author Kathrin Nägele.

"From the genetic similarities of two individuals, we can calculate the degree of genetic relationship. In this case, we found two pairs who were so similar they could only be identical twins, and at least three more who were full siblings. They could have also been twins, but fraternal twins, coming from two different egg cells," Nägele said. "This is the first time we are able to confidently identify identical twins in the archaeological record."

The research contradicted an idea popularized in the 20th century that the ancient Maya preferred female sacrifices.

The researchers also compared the genomes of the boys to those of present-day Maya communities, including people from the village of Tixcacaltuyub near Chichen Itza's ruins. They identified genetic traits in modern Maya likely arising from immune system adaptations by their ancestors to an epidemic bacterial infection during Spanish colonization.

It remains unclear how the boys died.

"There are no cut marks or evidence of trauma, which tells us how did they not die. But we have not found a cause of death for them yet," Barquera said.

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"During the Spanish colonial period, thousands of Maya books and texts were systematically burned, and there were concerted efforts to stamp out Maya religious beliefs and activities and replace them with Christianity," said Harvard University biomolecular archaeologist and study co-author Christina Warinner.

"As a result, there are many gaps in our knowledge about the specific ritual practices performed by the ancient Maya - and especially their meaning," Warinner added. "Among these, human sacrifice remains one of the most misunderstood ritual acts." 
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In 1967, an underground cistern known as a chultun was discovered near a sacred body of water at Chichen Itza, an important ancient Maya city on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.

In 1967, an underground cistern known as a chultun was discovered near a sacred body of water at Chichen Itza, an important ancient Maya city on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Skeletal remains of more than 100 children were found inside. Now, DNA obtained from 64 of them is offering insight into child sacrifice at Chichen Itza in the centuries before Europeans reached the New World. Those entombed were all boys - some of them brothers, including two sets of identical twins - killed during religious rituals, scientists said on Wednesday. Most were ages 3 to 6. Most were interred in the mass grave during the pinnacle of Chichen Itza's political and cultural clout, from about 800 AD to 1000 AD, though some were buried in the centuries before and after that, covering a 500-year span ending at around 1100. Also read: This rare 'blue room' was Pompeii city's shrine in ancient times Twins figure prominently in ancient Maya religion and art, and sacrificing twins is described in sacred writings, including a book called the Popol Vuh. The Mayan Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, underwent cycles of sacrifice and resurrection as they confronted gods of the underworld. Subterranean structures like the chultun were considered entrances to the underworld, central to Maya cosmogony. "Ritual sacrifice was a common practice among ancient Mesoamerican populations. However, the biological relationships between the sacrificed individuals had not been described before," said archaeogeneticist Rodrigo Barquera of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) in Germany, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature. "We think that the people from Chichen Itza were trying to symbolically replicate the Mayan mythological stories and the representation of the twin heroes in this ritual burial," Barquera added. "For Maya, and Mesoamerican cultures in general, death is the ultimate offering, and as such, sacrifices bear high importance to their beliefs system." Chichen Itza is known for its stunning architecture, including an impressive pyramid structure now called El Castillo. Nearby is a sacred water-filled sinkhole called a cenote, where the bodies of more than 200 people were found. And close to that is the chultun where the boys were buried. Also read: NASA audio leak detailing emergency on ISS creates panic; space agency dismisses concerns "The original purpose of chultuns was to store fresh water. This one had been repurposed into a funerary chamber adjacent to a small natural cave. Both the chultun and the cave were filled with human remains," Barquera said. DNA was extracted from the petrous portion of the temporal bone, which houses the inner ear. This small bone has proven optimal in preserving ancient DNA. "We sampled only the left portion because that would make sure we sampled every individual only once. It was not preserved for every individual in the chultun, therefore we sampled only a subset," said MPI-EVA archaeogeneticist and study co-author Kathrin Nägele. "From the genetic similarities of two individuals, we can calculate the degree of genetic relationship. In this case, we found two pairs who were so similar they could only be identical twins, and at least three more who were full siblings. They could have also been twins, but fraternal twins, coming from two different egg cells," Nägele said. "This is the first time we are able to confidently identify identical twins in the archaeological record." The research contradicted an idea popularized in the 20th century that the ancient Maya preferred female sacrifices. The researchers also compared the genomes of the boys to those of present-day Maya communities, including people from the village of Tixcacaltuyub near Chichen Itza's ruins. They identified genetic traits in modern Maya likely arising from immune system adaptations by their ancestors to an epidemic bacterial infection during Spanish colonization. It remains unclear how the boys died. "There are no cut marks or evidence of trauma, which tells us how did they not die. But we have not found a cause of death for them yet," Barquera said. Also read: 'Aliens' and UFO civilisation could be living on Earth in 'stealth' mode: Report "During the Spanish colonial period, thousands of Maya books and texts were systematically burned, and there were concerted efforts to stamp out Maya religious beliefs and activities and replace them with Christianity," said Harvard University biomolecular archaeologist and study co-author Christina Warinner. "As a result, there are many gaps in our knowledge about the specific ritual practices performed by the ancient Maya - and especially their meaning," Warinner added. "Among these, human sacrifice remains one of the most misunderstood ritual acts."

Maya sacrifice of twin boys revealed by DNA from Chichen Itza

Maya, a rail project connecting Mexico's famous beaches to archaeological sites has become a major environmental issue, our next report tells you what the controversy is about.

Mexico divided over Maya Train project, govt says it will 'boost development'

Activists in Mexico express rage over the Maya train project that will through a forest. People in Mexico stand divided over the issue.

Activists protest against 'Ecocide'

Mexico has officially apologised to its indigenous Mayan populations for atrocities committed against them over the last five centuries.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador apologised to the Mayans for the abuses they faced in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest. Obrador was speaking at an event which was also attended by Guatemalan leader Alejandro Giammattei in the state of Quintana Roo.

“We offer the most sincere apologies to the Mayan people for the terrible abuses committed by individuals and national and foreign authorities in the conquest, during three centuries of colonial domination and two centuries of an independent Mexico," BBC quoted Obrador as saying.

The president made references to the Caste War revolt which took place between 1847-1901. It is estimated that 250,000 people died in this revolt. The timing though doesn’t sit right with many critics, for Mexico is set to hold legislative and municipal elections very soon.

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Giammattei pitched in to suggest that Mayans continue to face abuses even now. "We have managed as a region to overcome aspects such as slavery, internal wars, and open confrontations between peoples," Giammattei said.

He further said that Mayans are now losing lives to organised crime, malnutrition and in the pursuit of their dreams and opportunities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/mexico-roof-over-famous-aztec-temple-collapses-in-hailstorm-381494" hreflang="en">Mexico: Roof over famous Aztec temple collapses in hailstorm</a>

Mayan leaders have pleaded for recognition from the national government for years, who claim that the Spanish and Mexican governments obliterated their culture and also massacred their people.

Even then, Obrador has been vocal about rights of indigenous population in his home state of Tabasco.

Mexico has officially apologised to its indigenous Mayan populations for atrocities committed against them over the last five centuries. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador apologised to the Mayans for the abuses they faced in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest.

Mexico has officially apologised to its indigenous Mayan populations for atrocities committed against them over the last five centuries. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador apologised to the Mayans for the abuses they faced in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest. Obrador was speaking at an event which was also attended by Guatemalan leader Alejandro Giammattei in the state of Quintana Roo. “We offer the most sincere apologies to the Mayan people for the terrible abuses committed by individuals and national and foreign authorities in the conquest, during three centuries of colonial domination and two centuries of an independent Mexico," BBC quoted Obrador as saying. The president made references to the Caste War revolt which took place between 1847-1901. It is estimated that 250,000 people died in this revolt. The timing though doesn’t sit right with many critics, for Mexico is set to hold legislative and municipal elections very soon. Also read: Mexico city train derailment kills at least 20, injures dozens more Giammattei pitched in to suggest that Mayans continue to face abuses even now. "We have managed as a region to overcome aspects such as slavery, internal wars, and open confrontations between peoples," Giammattei said. He further said that Mayans are now losing lives to organised crime, malnutrition and in the pursuit of their dreams and opportunities. Also read: Mexico: Roof over famous Aztec temple collapses in hailstorm Mayan leaders have pleaded for recognition from the national government for years, who claim that the Spanish and Mexican governments obliterated their culture and also massacred their people. Even then, Obrador has been vocal about rights of indigenous population in his home state of Tabasco.

Mexican President Obrador apologises for atrocities against Mayans

An Indian-origin woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for brutally abusing and starving her 12-year-old stepdaughter for more than a year.&nbsp; 
 
Queens Supreme court sentenced Sheetal Ranot, 35, after she was convicted of first-degree assault on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
On one occasion, Ranot beat Maya with a broken metal broom handle that her wrist was sliced to the bone, causing excessive bleeding. She was found lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen by the medical personnel with the tendons of her left wrist exposed. She had to be hospitalised for a surgery.&nbsp; 
 
In another instance, she kicked the girl in her face with a wood rolling pin causing laceration, swelling and pain to her left cheek. 
 
Queens district attorney called Ranot an &ldquo;an epitome of evil step-mother.&rdquo; 
 
&ldquo;She &nbsp;wantonly beat and abused the girl inflicting pain still evident by the scars that mark her body today. The youngster, at 12, weighed just 58 pounds. No child deserves to be treated in this manner,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; 
 
Maya&rsquo;s biological father Rajesh Ranot is also charged with assault, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child and will be tried at a later date. 
 
Between December 2012 and May 2014, she locked the youngster inside her bedroom and for extended periods of time refused to feed her. 
 
(WION with inputs from PTI) 
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Sheetal Ranot beat Maya with broken metal brooms and wood rolling pins for more than a year

An Indian-origin woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for brutally abusing and starving her 12-year-old stepdaughter for more than a year. Queens Supreme court sentenced Sheetal Ranot, 35, after she was convicted of first-degree assault on Friday. On one occasion, Ranot beat Maya with a broken metal broom handle that her wrist was sliced to the bone, causing excessive bleeding. She was found lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen by the medical personnel with the tendons of her left wrist exposed. She had to be hospitalised for a surgery. In another instance, she kicked the girl in her face with a wood rolling pin causing laceration, swelling and pain to her left cheek. Queens district attorney called Ranot an “an epitome of evil step-mother.” “She wantonly beat and abused the girl inflicting pain still evident by the scars that mark her body today. The youngster, at 12, weighed just 58 pounds. No child deserves to be treated in this manner,” he added. Maya’s biological father Rajesh Ranot is also charged with assault, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child and will be tried at a later date. Between December 2012 and May 2014, she locked the youngster inside her bedroom and for extended periods of time refused to feed her. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Indian-origin stepmother gets 15 years in jail for beating, starving 12-year-old

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