UC experts’ Maya research featured in Cincinnati Museum Center exhibit
July 28, 2020
The Cincinnati Museum Center officially opened Maya: The Exhibition last week, and with it a hands-on companion exhibit developed by an interdisciplinary team of Maya experts from the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences. Originally slated for a March 14 opening, the exhibits were shuttered until late this month after the state lockdown resulting from the novel coronavirus pandemic. In its U.S. premiere, the exhibit features more than 300 original objects—from massive, carved-stone slabs to elaborate jade jewelry to tools and everyday items—that explore Maya culture. From 1000 BC to 1500 AD, Maya civilization spanned the jungles of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, noted for its innovations in science, agriculture, astronomy and mathematics.
Ancient Maya built sophisticated water filters
October 22, 2020
A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Cincinnati discovered evidence of a sophisticated filtration system in the ancient Maya city of Tikal in what is now northern Guatemala.
Smithsonian: UC researchers uncover ancient Maya water filtration
November 6, 2020
International news media highlight UC archaeologists' discovery of advanced water filtration system in ancient Maya city.
WVXU: UC finds pollution in ancient Maya reservoirs
August 6, 2020
A study by experts across disciplines at UC found that ancient Maya reservoirs in Tikal were polluted with toxic cyanobacteria and mercury, which likely hastened the demise of the ancient city during droughts. UC biology professor David Lentz tells Cincinnati Edition the findings could help explain the mystery of why people abandoned the city.
NPR: Excavations reveal sophisticated Mayan water filtration
November 9, 2020
Weekend Edition's Scott Simon interviews UC researchers who discovered that the ancient Maya used sophisticated water filtration system at Tikal.
Ancient Origins: Maya cities had unique neotropical forest parks
June 25, 2021
Ancient Origins highlights UC research at the ancient Maya city of Tikal that found evidence of trees and wild vegetation growing along two reservoirs.
Did the ancient Maya have parks?
June 22, 2021
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati say Tikal’s reservoirs — critical sources of city drinking water — were lined with trees and wild vegetation that would have provided scenic natural beauty in the heart of the ancient Maya city. UC developed a novel system to analyze ancient plant DNA in the sediment of Tikal’s temple and palace reservoirs to identify more than 30 species of trees, grasses, vines and flowering plants that lived along its banks more than 1,000 years ago. Their findings painted a picture of a lush, wild oasis.