Latest news with #archaeologists
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city unearthed. Why it's named 'The Grandparents'
An international team of archaeologists has announced the discovery of a nearly 3,000-year-old ancient Mayan city in a northeastern region of Guatemala known for its tropical forests and ruins. The site Los Abuelos, Spanish for 'The Grandparents," was a ritual center for the entire region, the country's culture ministry said in a statement May 29, and home to one of the oldest and most prominent Mayan shrines yet discovered. It takes its name from the discovery of two human-like sculptures found at the site, called an "ancestral couple" by researchers. The city, along with two other nearby sites, Petnal and Cambrayal, constitute an urban triangle researchers say are key discoveries in the study of the origins of Mayan society in the Petén region of northern Guatemala, which borders Mexico and Belize. "The discovery of the city called Los Abuelos stands out for its ancient characteristics and its exceptional features of historical value, which contribute significantly to the understanding of the Mayan civilization," the ministry said in the statement. The Mayans lived in modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras, with origins dating back 4,000 years, around 2,000 B.C, with the heart of its empire based in Guatemala's tropical lowlands. Northern Guatemala's Petén Province, where the ruins were found, is a large forest region with thousands of architectural and artistic remains of the Mayan civilization. They date from the Preclassic Period of 600 B.C. to the decline and eventual collapse of the empire's urban centers around 900 A.D., according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO. More: Lasers reveal Mayan civilization of 'unimaginable scale' More archaeological news: Iron Age find: British 'bling' from 2,000 years ago included horse harnesses Archaeologists found Los Abuelos was occupied as early as 800 B.C., Guatemala's culture ministry said, which makes the city more than 2,800 years old. In a palace in the nearby settlement of Cambrayal, archaeologists found what they call a sophisticated system of canals, the statement said, and in Petnal, they found a 108-foot pyramid with murals. The excavation was funded in part by the Comenius University of Bratislava, Slovakia, under the direction of Dr. Milan Kovác, and aided by an international consortium of researchers and supporters. The discoveries are part of the wider Uaxactún Archaeological Project, a 17-year effort to expand archaeological research across a 460-square-mile area surrounding the original Uaxactun archaeological site. Los Abuelos is roughly 13 miles northeast of Uaxactún. Uaxactun is one of the earliest archaeological sites in the Mayan lowlands, according to the World Monuments Fund, and became a foundation for modern Mesoamerican studies when formal research into the site began in 1924. It lies within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Tikal National Park, though it does not get nearly as many visitors as the nearby Tikal site. It was included on the 2014 World Monuments Watch, a list curated by the nonprofit organization to highlight monuments facing urgent challenges and preservation opportunities. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ancient Maya city unearthed in Guatemala
UPI
a day ago
- Science
- UPI
Tech revolutionizes centuries-old search for prime numbers
A laptop represents today's tools fueling the global search for massive prime numbers, essential for both mathematics and cybersecurity. Photo by Tony Avelar/EPA May 30 (UPI) -- A shard of smooth bone etched with irregular marks dating back 20,000 years puzzled archaeologists until they noticed something unique - the etchings, lines like tally marks, may have represented prime numbers. Similarly, a clay tablet from 1800 B.C.E. inscribed with Babylonian numbers describes a number system built on prime numbers. As the Ishango bone, the Plimpton 322 tablet and other artifacts throughout history display, prime numbers have fascinated and captivated people throughout history. Today, prime numbers and their properties are studied in number theory, a branch of mathematics and active area of research today. A history of prime numbers Informally, a positive counting number larger than one is prime if that number of dots can be arranged only into a rectangular array with one column or one row. For example, 11 is a prime number since 11 dots form only rectangular arrays of sizes 1 by 11 and 11 by 1. Conversely, 12 is not prime since you can use 12 dots to make an array of 3 by 4 dots, with multiple rows and multiple columns. Math textbooks define a prime number as a whole number greater than one whose only positive divisors are only 1 and itself. Math historian Peter S. Rudman suggests that Greek mathematicians were likely the first to understand the concept of prime numbers, around 500 B.C.E. Around 300 B.C.E., the Greek mathematician and logician Euler proved that there are infinitely many prime numbers. Euler began by assuming that there is a finite number of primes. Then he came up with a prime that was not on the original list to create a contradiction. Since a fundamental principle of mathematics is being logically consistent with no contradictions, Euler then concluded that his original assumption must be false. So, there are infinitely many primes. The argument established the existence of infinitely many primes, however it was not particularly constructive. Euler had no efficient method to list all the primes in an ascending list. In the middle ages, Arab mathematicians advanced the Greeks' theory of prime numbers, referred to as hasam numbers during this time. The Persian mathematician Kamal al-Din al-Farisi formulated the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, which states that any positive integer larger than one can be expressed uniquely as a product of primes. From this view, prime numbers are the basic building blocks for constructing any positive whole number using multiplication - akin to atoms combining to make molecules in chemistry. Prime numbers can be sorted into different types. In 1202, Leonardo Fibonacci introduced in his book "Liber Abaci: Book of Calculation" prime numbers of the form (2p - 1) where p is also prime. Today, primes in this form are called Mersenne primes after the French monk Marin Mersenne. Many of the largest known primes follow this format. Several early mathematicians believed that a number of the form (2p - 1) is prime whenever p is prime. But in 1536, mathematician Hudalricus Regius noticed that 11 is prime but not (211 - 1), which equals 2047. The number 2047 can be expressed as 11 times 89, disproving the conjecture. While not always true, number theorists realized that the (2p - 1) shortcut often produces primes and gives a systematic way to search for large primes. The search for large primes The number (2p - 1) is much larger relative to the value of p and provides opportunities to identify large primes. When the number (2p - 1) becomes sufficiently large, it is much harder to check whether (2p - 1) is prime - that is, if (2p - 1) dots can be arranged only into a rectangular array with one column or one row. Fortunately, Édouard Lucas developed a prime number test in 1878, later proved by Derrick Henry Lehmer in 1930. Their work resulted in an efficient algorithm for evaluating potential Mersenne primes. Using this algorithm with hand computations on paper, Lucas showed in 1876 that the 39-digit number (2127 - 1) equals 170,141,183,460,469,231,731,687,303,715,884,105,727, and that value is prime. Also known as M127, this number remains the largest prime verified by hand computations. It held the record for largest known prime for 75 years. Researchers began using computers in the 1950s, and the pace of discovering new large primes increased. In 1952, Raphael M. Robinson identified five new Mersenne primes using a Standard Western Automatic Computer to carry out the Lucas-Lehmer prime number tests. As computers improved, the list of Mersenne primes grew, especially with the Cray supercomputer's arrival in 1964. Although there are infinitely many primes, researchers are unsure how many fit the type (2p - 1) and are Mersenne primes. By the early 1980s, researchers had accumulated enough data to confidently believe that infinitely many Mersenne primes exist. They could even guess how often these prime numbers appear, on average. Mathematicians have not found proof so far, but new data continues to support these guesses. George Woltman, a computer scientist, founded the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, or GIMPS, in 1996. Through this collaborative program, anyone can download freely available software from the GIMPS website to search for Mersenne prime numbers on their personal computers. The website contains specific instructions on how to participate. GIMPS has now identified 18 Mersenne primes, primarily on personal computers using Intel chips. The program averages a new discovery about every one to two years. The largest known prime Luke Durant, a retired programmer, discovered the current record for the largest known prime, (2136,279,841 - 1), in October 2024. Referred to as M136279841, this 41,024,320-digit number was the 52nd Mersenne prime identified and was found by running GIMPS on a publicly available cloud-based computing network. This network used Nvidia chips and ran across 17 countries and 24 data centers. These advanced chips provide faster computing by handling thousands of calculations simultaneously. The result is shorter run times for algorithms such as prime number testing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a civil liberty group that offers cash prizes for identifying large primes. It awarded prizes in 2000 and 2009 for the first verified 1 million-digit and 10 million-digit prime numbers. Large prime number enthusiasts' next two challenges are to identify the first 100 million-digit and 1 billion-digit primes. EFF prizes of US$150,000 and $250,000, respectively, await the first successful individual or group. Eight of the 10 largest known prime numbers are Mersenne primes, so GIMPS and cloud computing are poised to play a prominent role in the search for record-breaking large prime numbers. Large prime numbers have a vital role in many encryption methods in cybersecurity, so every internet user stands to benefit from the search for large prime numbers. These searches help keep digital communications and sensitive information safe. Jeremiah Bartz is an associate professor of mathematics at University of North Dakota. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Lost city is discovered in Guatemala after 3,000 YEARS: Mysterious settlement dubbed Los Abuelos was 'one of the most important ceremonial centres' of the Maya civilization
Deep in the Guatemalan jungle lies the remains of an ancient city forgotten about for nearly 3,000 years, experts reveal. Covering an area of six square miles (16 sq km), the city, dubbed 'Los Abuelos', may date as far back as 800 BC. Experts at the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture say it was inhabited by the Maya, the ancient civilization of indigenous people in Central America. The presence of pyramids and monuments suggest it was an important Mayan ceremonial site where brutal human sacrifices may have taken place. 'The site presents remarkable architectural planning' with pyramids and monuments 'sculpted with unique iconography from the region', said the ministry. Originating around 2600 BC, the Maya civilization thrived in Central and South America for nearly 3,000 years, reaching its height between AD 250 to 900. The civilization occupied present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. But by 1000 AD, the civilization had mysteriously collapsed – possibly due to a devastating drought that created an agricultural crisis. This lost city of Los Abuelos is in the Maya Biosphere nature reserve (Reserva de Biosfera Maya), about 13 miles from Uaxactun, Guatemala. It was found by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously under-explored areas of the jungle habitat, home to a large number of animal and plant species. Authorities have already dated it to an estimated period from about 800 to 500 BC – what is known as the 'Middle Preclassic' period in Maya history. To put this into context, 800 BC was the time when people in Britain learned how to use iron for tools, several centuries before the Romans arrived. Los Abuelos (Spanish for 'The Grandparents') takes its name from two mysterious human-like sculptures described as an 'ancestral couple' found at the site. The figures, dated to between 500 and 300 BCE, 'could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship,' said the ministry. It's well known the Maya would dance, sing and sometimes make offerings of blood to their several gods to demonstrate their respect and loyalty. But it's as yet unclear what these structures represented and how exactly they may have played a part in such events. The bizarre rituals of the Mayan civilization The Maya people of South America were a very superstitious civilization. They believed in many deities, had a god for every event, and therefore had many rituals performed for the gods to obtain their blessings from them. Human sacrifice was the best tribute that could be made to a god. Usually, slaves or prisoners were sacrificed. The most valuable blood was the one they extracted from their ears or tongues. But it was very normal for the Maya to make wounds to offer their blood to the gods. Human or animal sacrifices could be made by extirpating the heart of a human being or an animal and were usually carried out in the highest part of the pyramid. Source: Chichen Itza Maya people even engaged in the brutal act of human sacrifice because they though blood was a potent source of nourishment for their gods – and that they'd get rain and fertile fields in return. Sadly, some of the humans caught up in such bizarre rituals were the very young, according to skeletal remains at a famous Maya pyramid. The Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists also managed to find a pyramid 108 feet (33 metres) high with murals from the Preclassic period and 'a unique canal system'. We already know the Mayans developed sophisticated techniques to harness natural water sources, adapting to seasonal rainfall patterns and creating complex irrigation systems. Noted for the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, the Mayas also had advanced art and architecture as well as mathematical and astronomical systems. Mysteriously in the 8th and 9th century AD, a large chunk of the Mayan civilization collapsed, leading to their eventual downfall around 1000 AD. While the reason for this has been hotly debated, drought and climate change are among the most widely-spouted theories. An increase in the elite Maya's preference for corn may have made the population more vulnerable to drought, contributing to its societal collapse, one theory goes. The Maya civilization occupied present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Pictured, a Maya pyramid nestled in a clearing among dense rain forest in, Copan, Honduras Experts at the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture say the new findings 'allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization' of the region in the pre-Hispanic period – the time prior to Spanish conquests in the 16th century. It follows the discovery of a Mayan city in Mexico that once featured an urban landscape of more than 6,500 structures. Using a laser method, researchers from the US uncovered a 21-square-mile metropolis with iconic stone pyramids, houses and other infrastructure that have been concealed for more than 3,000 years. Scientists also recently discovered a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacan culture at nearby Tikal, about 14 miles (23km) south of Uaxactun. The find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 800 miles (1,300 km) apart. Tikal is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions. The Maya civilisation thrived in Central America for nearly 3,000 years, reaching its height between AD 250 to 900. Noted for the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, the Mayas also had highly advanced art and architecture as well as mathematical and astronomical systems. During that time, the ancient people built incredible cities using advanced machinery and gained an understanding of astronomy, as well as developing advanced agricultural methods and accurate calendars. The Maya believed the cosmos shaped their everyday lives and they used astrological cycles to tell when to plant crops and set their calendars. This has led to theories that the Maya may have chosen to locate their cities in line with the stars. It is already known that the pyramid at Chichen Itza was built according to the sun's location during the spring and autumn equinoxes. When the sun sets on these two days, the pyramid casts a shadow on itself that aligns with a carving of the head of the Mayan serpent god. The shadow makes the serpent's body so that as the sun sets, the terrifying god appears to slide towards the earth. Maya influence can be detected from Honduras, Guatemala, and western El Salvador to as far away as central Mexico, more than 1,000km from the Maya area. The Maya peoples never disappeared. Today their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Remains of Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old unearthed in Guatemala
Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old in northern Guatemala, with pyramids and monuments that point to its significance as an important ceremonial site. The Mayan civilization arose around 2000BC, reaching its height between 400 and 900AD in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The city named Los Abuelos, Spanish for 'The Grandparents,' once stood some 21km (13 miles) from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in Guatemala's northern Petén department, the country's culture ministry said in a statement on Thursday. It is dated to what is known as the Middle Preclassic period from about 800-500BC, and is believed to have been 'one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centers' of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Petén near the Mexican border, it added. 'The site presents remarkable architectural planning' with pyramids and monuments 'sculpted with unique iconography from the region', said the ministry. The city takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an 'ancestral couple' found at the site. The figures, dated to between 500 and 300BC, 'could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship', said the ministry. The city, which covers an area of about 16 sq km (6 sq miles) was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun park. Nearby, they also found a pyramid standing 33 meters (108ft) high with murals from the Preclassic period and 'a unique canal system', according to the statement. 'The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle ... These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Petén,' said the ministry. In April, scientists discovered a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacán culture at Tikal, elsewhere in the Petén department. That find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 1,300km apart. Tikal, about 23km from Uaxcatun, is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
New DNA analysis uncovers shocking clues behind the Maya civilization's mysterious collapse
For centuries, the story of the ancient Maya's sudden disappearance has captivated — and baffled — archaeologists. But now, a groundbreaking genetic study reveals a very different ending: the people never left. Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from human remains buried in Copan, a major Maya city in modern day Honduras. Their findings challenge the long-held belief that the city's fall around 1,200 years ago marked a total population collapse. Instead, the genetic data reveals that many of Copan's original inhabitants stayed put and bred with outsiders. The same bloodlines that walked Copan's grand plazas in the 9th century continued living in the region for centuries, even as the political empire crumbled. Archaeologists previously thought that the political collapse of Classic Maya city-states like Copan involved a massive population wipeout or mass exodus. Lisa Lucero, an anthropologist at the University of Illinois, echoed this sentiment in an interview with LiveScience, stating: 'The over 7 million Maya living today are living proof that the political system crumbled, not the people.' The collapse of the Mayan empire did not happen all at once, but over centuries of droughts, wars and stints of overpopulation. While historians debate the true cause of its disappearance, many agree that a combination of the factors led to the abandonment of many Maya city-states. While DNA has been recovered from other Maya sites before, this is the most detailed genetic snapshot ever taken of individuals who lived in one of the civilization's most iconic cities. Researchers analyzed the DNA of seven corpses found at Copan, allowing them piece the puzzle together. The newly extracted genomes were then compared to over 700 ancient and modern genomes from across the Americas, resulting in a detailed genetic map. The findings revealed that individuals buried at Copan belonged to a broader Maya genetic lineage that dates back to 3,700 BC, particularly in what is now Belize. However, researchers also detected genetic signatures from central Mexico's highlands, home to ancient Zapotec and Mixe peoples from roughly 500 BC to 900 AD. This genetic mixing supports long-standing theories that Maya elites may have intermarried with outsiders to facilitate political alliances, the researchers said. It also aligns with the idea that some rulers may have been raised in or originated from distant regions. Even after the political collapse of Classic Maya civilization, their genetic legacy lived on in present-day populations. The Copan people had strong links the modern-day Mexican, Guatemalan, and Honduran people. Shigeki Nakagome, co-author of the study and assistant professor of genomic medicine at Trinity College Dublin, said: 'This supports the idea that Maya society, especially among the elite, was both diverse and mobile,' Nakagome said. 'But despite these external influences, there's a remarkable continuity of local ancestry.' Copan was founded in 426 AD by the dynasty's first ruler, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', who is believed to have migrated from the central Maya region. Strategically located along major trade routes, the city served as a cultural crossroads linking Mesoamerican civilizations from the Yucatan to the Andes. Although Copan has been extensively studied through archaeology, its genetic history had remained largely unknown, until now. Interestingly, among the sequenced individuals, one male buried with elaborate artifacts in Copan stood out. His genetic profile suggested elite status, possibly a dynastic ruler. A second male, buried nearby with no artifacts, was identified as a likely sacrificial victim. They say small the small sample limits the study's potential to represent the complete diversity of Copán's population, let alone the broader Maya civilization.
