Archaeologists Unearth Treasure-Filled Tomb Belonging to the First Known Ruler of a Maya City in Belize
Te K’ab Chaak was a wealthy warrior king who rose to power in 331 C.E. His burial is the first royal tomb found in the ancient city of Caracol
Ancient DNA Reveals Mysterious New Group of Humans in Colombia With No Genetic Ties to People Today
The previously undocumented lineage of hunter-gatherers seems to have disappeared around 2,000 years ago
Giant Sloths the Size of Elephants Once Walked Along the Ground. Here’s How the Massive Animals Evolved and Declined
Researchers analyzed fossils and DNA to get a big-picture view of sloth evolution and determine what drove their immense size variation
Locals Thought These Shipwrecks Had Belonged to Pirates. They Turned Out to Be 300-Year-Old Danish Slave Ships
The two vessels had been trafficking hundreds of enslaved Africans when a navigational error led them astray. They sank off the coast of Costa Rica in the 18th century
Archaeologists Unearth Intricately Decorated Altar That May Have Been Used for Ancient Sacrifices in Guatemala
Discovered in the ruins of Tikal, the altar sheds light on strained relations between the Maya city and Teotihuacán—which was located more than 600 miles away
Being Struck by Lightning Is No Big Deal for This Tropical Tree—the Zap Even Gives It a Boost
The almendro tree may have evolved to attract lightning, which helps clear more space for it to grow, according to new research
New Study Reveals How Humans Cultivated Avocados Over Thousands of Years
Research in Honduras shows that humans began selecting for larger fruits with thicker rinds as early as 7,500 years ago—long before maize arrived in the region
Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Clay Puppets With Open Mouths and Detachable Heads That ‘Resemble Modern Toy Dolls’
The figurines were discovered in a largely unexcavated site in El Salvador. Some 2,400 years ago, they were controlled by strings that passed through their necks
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Canals Used to Trap Fish in Belize 4,000 Years Ago
Pre-Maya hunter-gatherers built the system in Central America in response to a drought between 2200 and 1900 B.C.E., according to a new study
The Andes’ Translucent Glass Frogs Need to Be Seen to Be Saved
The amphibians are at the mercy of mining operations that are destroying their ecosystems, but local communities throughout South America are fighting back
Amid Rising Temperatures, Sloths’ Slowness May Put Their Survival at Risk
The world’s slowest mammal is at risk of extinction by the end of the century due to their low metabolic rate and climate change
A Mass Grave of Maya Boys May Shed Light on Human Sacrifice in Chichén Itzá
Researchers have genetically tested the bones and made determinations of gender and family relations
Centuries-Old Maya Beekeeping Tools Unearthed in Mexico
Archaeologists in the Yucatán Peninsula found several stone lids used by the pre-Columbian civilization to collect honey from stingless bees
Mesoamericans May Have Drunk Tobacco During Rituals 1,000 Years Ago
New research reveals evidence of nicotine residue on vases unearthed in Guatemala
Should Endangered Turtles Have Legal Rights?
To protect the majestic reptiles around the isthmus of Panama, an ambitious conservation group digs deep both on and off the beach
Why Central American Volcanoes Are Ideal for Studying Earth’s Evolution
The volcanic arc extending from Mexico to Costa Rica expels a variety of magma types that make for a geological paradise
The Surprise Reappearance of a Rare Frog Has Scientists Leaping to Protect Its Habitat
The marsupial frog, which incubates its young in a pouch on its back, was thought to be extinct in some countries
These 15 Photos Explore the Diversity and Rich Culture of Latino Americans
For Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs through October 15, enjoy these highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Archaeologists Discover Entrance to the Zapotec Underworld Beneath a Church in Mexico
New scans of the site have confirmed the existence of an “underground labyrinth”
Maya Canoe Found in Underwater Cave May Have Been Used for Rituals
Archaeologists discovered the seven-foot-long vessel near Chichén Itzá two years ago
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