Buried deep in the soil and sediments of ancient Maya castles is a large enough amount of mercury to harm archaeologists in modern times, according to research just published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Previously, a team of authors led by Associate Professor Duncan Cook from the Australian Catholic University (Australia) analyzed sediments taken from many ancient Maya cities in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and discovered except for the site of the period. classical Chan b’i, all other ancient Mayan citadels were heavily contaminated with mercury.
Graphic image depicting a pyramid in the ancient Maya city – Photo: SCITECH DAILY
This was due to the habit of using mercury-related materials in other ceremonies and activities, including the beautiful and distinctive red cinnabar powder – a symbol of imperial power.
Mercury-polluting activities were most common between AD 250 and 1100, which is why the older citadel was unaffected.
At the famous site of both archeology and tourism, the ancient citadel of Tikal, mercury concentrations reached 17.16 ppm, or 17.16 times the toxic threshold.
Mercury poisoning once harmed the ancient Mayans, causing them to experience damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, deafness, paralysis, pathological obesity, mental illness… but some monstrous reliefs on the ancient Mayans may have reflected.
At present-day measurements, archaeologists are still very susceptible to this ancient “ghost” when digging in the area; shows that serious metal contamination is something that should be taken into account during excavations.