Ancient DNA Uncovers the Secrets of Human Sacrifice at Chichén Itzá

Genetic research at Chichén Itzá has revealed the ritual sacrifice of related male children and local genetic adaptations to historical epidemics.

The ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá, located in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, is one of North America’s most iconic and enigmatic archaeological sites. It rose to power in the aftermath of the Classic Maya collapse and was a populous and powerful political center in the centuries preceding the arrival of the Spanish. Famed for its monumental architecture, including over a dozen ballcourts and numerous temples such as the massive El Castillo, Chichén Itzá has been the subject of archaeological investigation for more than a century.