Ancient Maya City Dating Back 3,000 Years Unearthed in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY — Deep within the dense tropical forests of northern Guatemala, near the border with Mexico, archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of an ancient Maya city believed to be nearly 3,000 years old — a discovery that could reshape understanding of early urban development in the Americas. 

The newly unearthed site, one of the oldest known urban settlements attributed to the Maya civilization, features monumental architecture, advanced hydraulic infrastructure, and signs of a complex social and political structure that predate many previously studied Maya cities. Researchers say the city likely thrived between 800 and 500 BCE.

Dubbed Los Abuelos — Spanish for “The Grandparents” — the site was named after two humanlike stone statues discovered at the location, which are believed to represent ancestral figures. The discovery is being hailed as one of the most significant archaeological findings in the region in recent years. 

Among the city’s most striking features is a 30-meter-high pyramid, adorned with faded but still-visible mural art. Excavations also revealed a sophisticated irrigation network, including canals and reservoirs, which would have supported agriculture and daily life during the city’s peak. 

The site lies in one of the most archaeologically rich areas of Mesoamerica, long considered the cradle of Maya civilization. Its location, nestled between Guatemala and Mexico, positions it within a corridor of ancient trade and cultural exchange. 

Archaeologists involved in the dig say the site offers a rare glimpse into the early phases of Maya urbanism and religious life, centuries before the more widely known cities like Tikal and Palenque reached their heights. 

“This discovery opens an entirely new chapter in our understanding of pre-classic Maya society,” said one of the lead archaeologists. “It challenges assumptions about when and how urban complexity began in the region.” 

The unearthing of Los Abuelos is expected to fuel new scholarly research and deepen appreciation for Guatemala’s precolonial heritage — a history long overshadowed by the Spanish conquest but increasingly illuminated by modern science.