Archaeology breakthrough as a 1700-year old altar leaves experts baffled - 'First example'

have been left stunned after they discovered compelling evidence confirming the interaction between the Mayan and Teotihuacan cultures. The Mayan and Teotihuacan cultures were two powerhouse civilizations of ancient Central America, but they were quite different in style, politics, and influence.

But now have discovered a 1,700-year-old altar while working on a project in Tikal National Park. The Maya-era residence-dubbed Group 6D-XV-features a distinctly Teotihuacan altar in the centre of the home. Tikal, a 2,400-year-old Maya city nestled in the heart of Guatemala, lies over 600 miles from the ancient metropolis of Teotihuacan in

Yet, the discovery of this altar suggests a connection between the two. Researchers have also confirmed that the mural depicts the Storm Goddess , majestic and adorned with a feather headdress, a distinctive element in Mesoamerican iconography.

Lorena Paiz Aragón, one of the researchers, said: "It's something unique in Guatemala. Nothing like it had ever been found. Something so domestic, from a residence; it's the first example found in Guatemala.

"That's where its importance lies, because it's very reminiscent of the Teotihuacan neighborhoods, with central altars. Rituals were performed to their own gods; art is used to worship their deities.

"This demonstrates the importance of both cultures and the cosmopolitan nature of pre-Hispanic cities. (...) The importance lies in what we've always believed: Mayan cities were cosmopolitan."

Scholars from Brown University who were part of the research team published their findings in the journal Antiquity.

Andrew Scherer, another author of the study, said in a statement: "The Maya regularly buried buildings and rebuilt on top of them.

"But here, they buried the altar and surrounding buildings and just left them, even though this would have been prime real estate centuries later. They treated it almost like a memorial or a radioactive zone.

"It probably speaks to the complicated feelings they had about Teotihuacan."