Latest news with #MayaCivilization
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Why a holiday in historic Belize belongs on your bucket list
Stand before the 130ft-high pyramid of El Castillo at Xunantunich, overlooking the Mopan River, with its extraordinary carved frieze, and you'll feel powerful echoes of an ancient Maya civilisation that thrived for centuries. It is just one of hundreds of evocative monuments built by the Maya in Belize, a Central American country that packs an astonishing variety of history and nature into its diminutive borders. Caana is another structure that commands a visit – a gigantic pyramid encompassing several temples and palaces that is the centrepiece of Caracol, which was once a huge city of 140,000 inhabitants. Nestled in the lush jungle, these and other impressively well-preserved gems have the advantage of not being overrun by visitors. Many settlements were lost under foliage over the centuries after the Maya reign but have been carefully unearthed by archaeologists who have maintained the monuments' special relationship with the wild landscapes. Nearby visitor centres explain the purposes of the key buildings and reveal their remarkable prowess in astronomy, mathematics and art. Belize is barely larger than Wales, so you're never far from an inspiring historical site, making it easy to combine an investigation of the country's deep history with an exotic wildlife experience or a thrilling Indiana Jones-style adventure. At the very least, a visit to any of these sites will be accompanied by the sights and sounds of colourful birds and possibly monkeys too. The vast Hokeb Ha (Blue Creek) Cave, which can only be accessed by swimming through its crystal waters, is close to Lubaantun Archaeological Park, known for its unique slate buildings that were constructed with equally unique methods, with no mortar used. Artefacts from sacred ceremonies have been found inside the cave and, if that isn't enough, one of Belize's glittering waterfalls is also close by. Insights into the secrets of the Maya have also been revealed through the vast array of tools, vessels and weapons – along with skeletons – found in Belize's best-known underground complex, the ATM Caves, which were only rediscovered in 1989. Far from disappearing completely, the Maya civilisation has endured: its descendants are very much alive today, and their influence can be found in the vibrant melting-pot that is modern Belize. As well as Maya, there are several other key cultures. Mestizos are the people of Maya-Spanish heritage, resulting from the country's colonial days. Garifuna people can trace their roots to Carib, Arawak and West African ancestors. More familiar will be Creole, where the European-African spirit infuses food, art and music. Of course, to really get to know a place's culture you have to dine there, and the cuisine of Belize perfectly reflects the amalgam of people living there: Maya, African, Spanish and Caribbean flavours have all left their mark. Rice and beans is the staple dish that's served everywhere but there are plenty of others that warrant a try. Look out for crispy conch fritters, just one example from the bountiful Caribbean Sea, and garnaches, which are fried tortillas topped with beans, cabbage, salsa and cheese. Then there's pibil – tender, slow-roasted pork. Don't be surprised to see meat pies at breakfast, and evening meals can be washed down with the local Belikin beer. To enjoy a blissful, authentic getaway to Belize that takes advantage of lower travel costs, visit during Green Season, which runs from June to November. With fewer tourists present, you have greater freedom to explore the country's countless natural and historic treasures. It's also worth trying to coincide your visit with one of the many festivals. These can be high-energy carnivals, with elaborate costumes and drumming (held in September), or more quirky events such as the Monkey River Festival (which happens in May), featuring traditional games and dancing. There are also fiestas to celebrate chocolate, cashews, mangos and lobsters. To make the most of a holiday in Belize it's best to book with a company that knows the country inside out. Journey Latin America is the UK's top specialist in travel to Latin America. Founded in 1980 this specialist tour operator has been creating award-winning tailor-made holidays and leading small, escorted group tours to every corner of the region for over 40 years. With a longstanding team of travel experts – all of whom have lived, worked or travelled extensively throughout the area – its staff pride themselves on being the most knowledgeable people in the industry when it comes to travel in Latin America. A 12-day Signature Belize Tour with Journey Latin America costs from £3,550 per person. This includes transfers, domestic flights, excursions and good-quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Science news this week: Strange signals from space and Earth's leaking gold
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. From the world's oldest known human fingerprint to genetic discoveries made using 2.2 million-year-old tooth enamel, this week's science news has taught us a lot about our ancient ancestors. But we've also learned a lot about our own species. While exploring what appeared to be "trash" in a cave in Mexico, two spelunkers came across dozens of artifacts that may have been used in fertility rituals by a little-known culture that inhabited the region 500 years ago. Looking even further back in history, scientists uncovered clues about the rise and fall of the Maya civilization in ancient DNA from people buried up to 1,600 years ago in Honduras. And let's not forget the newly discovered "ghost" lineage from ancient China, whose identity was deciphered from a 7,100-year-old skeleton in the southwestern Yunnan province. Looking beyond our own species, and our planet, researchers have been left stumped by some mysterious signals from outer space. Astronomers have identified a mysterious space object, named ASKAP J1832-0911, that spits out pulses of radio waves and X-rays in two-minute bursts at regular intervals. However, unlike traditional pulsars, which spit out radio signals every few seconds or milliseconds, the newfound object emits its pulses at intervals of 44 minutes — a period that was previously thought to be impossible. These signals have left scientists scratching their heads, and unraveling this cosmic mystery could reveal previously unknown physics. Discover more space news —'Previously unimaginable': James Webb telescope breaks its own record again, discovering farthest known galaxy in the universe —NASA plans to build a giant radio telescope on the 'dark side' of the moon. Here's why. —Not 'Little Red Dots' or roaring quasars: James Webb telescope uncovers new kind of 'hidden' black hole never seen before In the wild, parrots don't speak in human tongues; they communicate through a complex array of squeaks, squawks and whistles to find food and warn each other of potential dangers. Research has shown that these animals also use "signature contact calls" to refer to one another, similar to how we call each other by name. But in captivity, parrots don't have other flockmates to learn to speak "parrot" from. Instead, they use their highly specialized brains to pick up on human speech. But do they really understand what they are saying? Or are they merely masters of mimicry? At the center of our planet lies a vast reservoir of gold and precious metals, hidden beneath thousands of miles of rock. But new research suggests that, while it's unlikely we will ever be able to mine Earth's core, some of these metals might nonetheless make their way up to the surface. While studying volcanic rocks in Hawaii, scientists identified signs of a precious metal called ruthenium that they say could only have come from Earth's core-mantle boundary, located more than 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) below the planet's surface. The team believes that their findings indicate that gold and other precious metals may also be "leaking" from Earth's core into the mantle above. Discover more planet Earth news —There's a humongous boulder on a cliff in Tonga. Now we know how it got there. —Africa is being torn apart by a 'superplume' of hot rock from deep within Earth, study suggests —The land under South Africa is rising every year. We finally know why. —2 billion people could face chaotic and 'irreversible' shift in rainfall patterns if warming continues —Combo of cancer therapy drugs increases mice lifespan by 30% — but anti-aging benefits in humans remain unknown —Physicists capture 'second sound' for the first time — after nearly 100 years of searching —Giant 'senior citizen' sunspot on 3rd trip around the sun could break a century-old record "Megaconstellations" of private satellites are quickly becoming a reality, and that's a big problem for astronomers. Satellites release low levels of radiation in the form of radio waves. As the satellites crowd the outer reaches of our atmosphere, the invisible pollution they let off may disrupt signals from ground-based astronomy instruments, thus limiting our ability to read radio signals from the cosmos. "It would basically mean that no radio astronomy from the ground would be possible anymore," Benjamin Winkel, a radio astronomer at the Max Planck Institute of Radio Astronomy in Germany, told Live Science. "It will eventually reach a point where it is not worthwhile to operate a [radio] telescope anymore." At the rate that these megaconstellations are growing, this inflection point could be reached in the next 30 years. But what can be done to stop it? If you're looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best long reads, book excerpts and interviews published this week. —NASA plans to build a giant radio telescope on the 'dark side' of the moon. Here's why. (Explainer) —'The Martian' predicts human colonies on Mars by 2035. How close are we? (Opinion) —Sleep: Facts about how and why we sleep (Fact file) Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the most active in the world, has been erupting since December 2024. However, this week it did something very unusual. On May 25, the volcano spewed several enormous lava fountains, some shooting more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the air. Such "episodic" fountaining has not been seen since the eruption of Pu'u'ō'ō in the 1980s, experts from the U.S. Geological Society (USGS) wrote. As it erupts, the volcano has also released thousands of tons of toxic sulfur dioxide and strands of windblown volcanic glass, posing a significant threat to human health. Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for the latest discoveries as they happen. It's the best way to get our expert reporting on the go, but if you don't use WhatsApp, we're also on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
The Independent
30-05-2025
- The Independent
Nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city with ‘remarkable' architecture unearthed in Guatemala
Archaeologists in Guatemala have discovered the ruins of a 3,000-year-old Maya city featuring 'remarkable' architecture, including pyramids and monuments, that shed more light on the ancient civilisation. The ancient city named 'Los Abuelos' – Spanish for 'The Grandparents' – once stood about 21km from the archaeological site of Uaxactun in Guatemala 's northern Peten department, the culture ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The city 'presents remarkable architectural planning', and it was likely 'one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centres' of the Maya civilisation. Monuments found at the site have been dated to the Middle Preclassic period of 800-500BC and appear to be 'sculpted with unique iconography'. Some figures unearthed from the ruins, and dated to 500-300 BC, 'could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship', according to the ministry. Researchers said a pair of nearby archaeological sites uncovered during the latest excavations also stood out for their significance. While the Petnal site is home to a 33m-high pyramid adorned with pre-classical Maya murals, Cambrayal features a unique canal system and evidence of advanced hydraulic infrastructure. 'Archaeological investigations have included the active participation of Guatemalan and international professionals, with the support of the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia,' the ministry said. 'This joint effort has allowed significant advancements in the exploration, conservation, and dissemination of the Mayan legacy.' The three sites – Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambrayal – were excavated as part of Guatemala 's ongoing Uaxactún Regional Archaeological Project. 'These sites form a previously unknown urban triangle,' the ministry was quoted as saying by AFP. 'These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organisation of pre-Hispanic Peten.' The latest discovery follows the unearthing in April of a 1,000-year-old altar painted with a mural in red, yellow, and blue – colours associated with Mexico's ancient Teotihuacan culture. The mural was confirmed to depict the Goddess of the Storm adorned with a feathered headdress – a distinctive feature in Mesoamerican iconography. The discovery offered the first piece of evidence in Guatemala of possible interaction between the Maya and Teotihuacan cultures. The altar was believed to have been used by individuals with strong ties to Teotihuacan, who, along with introducing their funerary and architectural traditions, expressed their own cultural identity and beliefs in the region.
