• Archaeologists uncover the remains of nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city named "Los Abuelos."
• The site includes pyramids, monuments, and a unique canal system.
• Discovered near Uaxactun, the city is linked to ancient ritual practices.
• Findings help recontextualize understanding of pre-Hispanic Peten civilization.
• The discovery emphasizes significant ties between ancient cultures of Mesoamerica.

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city in northern Guatemala, known as "Los Abuelos," which translates to "The Grandparents." This significant find, located approximately 21 kilometers from the well-known archaeological site of Uaxactun, highlights the site's importance as a ceremonial center within the Mayan civilization, which thrived from around 2000 BC to its peak between 400 and 900 AD in what we recognize today as southern Mexico and parts of Central America, according to Le Monde, Bangkok Post, and CBS News.

Dating back to the "Middle Preclassic" period, around 800 to 500 BC, the city is believed to have been a crucial ceremonial center characterized by remarkable architectural planning. This includes pyramids and monuments adorned with distinctive iconography specific to the region. Notably, two human-like sculptures referred to as an "ancestral couple" have been recovered from the site, which are dated between 500 and 300 BC and suggest connections to ancient ritual practices, as indicated by the culture ministry of Guatemala, according to Le Monde, Bangkok Post, and CBS News.

The archaeological discovery covers an area of about 16 square kilometers and includes features such as a stunning 33-meter-high pyramid with murals from the Preclassic period, as well as a unique canal system. This urban site is expected to reshape our understanding of the socio-political and ceremonial organization of the pre-Hispanic Peten area, as stated by the ministry, according to Le Monde, Bangkok Post, and CBS News.

This discovery contributes to a growing body of evidence linking ancient Mayan civilizations to others in the region, such as the recent finding of a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's Teotihuacan culture, underscoring the interconnectedness of these ancient peoples despite geographical distances of over 1,300 kilometers, according to Le Monde, Bangkok Post, and CBS News.