For enthusiasts of sports, iconic venues like Fenway Park, Wembley Stadium, or Wimbledon’s Centre Court hold a special place in their hearts.
A groundbreaking study utilizing environmental DNA analysis has unveiled a fascinating discovery in the ancient Maya city of Yaxnohcah. Researchers have unearthed a collection of plants with significant religious and medicinal importance, hidden beneath the surface of a plaza where a ballcourt once stood.
It is believed that the ancient Maya performed a ceremonial offering as they constructed the ballcourt, seeking the protection and blessings of the gods for the inhabitants of the city.
According to UC Professor David Lentz, this ritual, often referred to as an ‘ensouling ritual,’ was a way to seek divine favor and appease the deities.
The findings of this study have been documented in the prestigious journal PLOS One.
2024-04-28 14:00:03
Originally posted on phys.org