
Cacao-pod-carcodile, whistling of death, drawn with blue Maya, California. 700-800 m. Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Michael C Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Picks Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979 in Ancient Central America (2025). Doi: 10.1017/s0956536125000082
In a recent study Published In the magazine Ancient Central AmericaDr. Dean Arnold and his colleagues, Joseph Paul, Lori Dossubio, and Jennifer Tachik, examined 17 sample of Blue Maya from the pottery trees dated to the classic period at the end of the terminal (680 to 860 m) in Buenvista del Cawyu. Maya Blue was a unique dye by combining organic indigo with inorganic Plygorskite.
Unlike pure indigo, it shows much better stability when exposed to sunlight and acids. This color allowed continuing for centuries, even in the climates of low tropical lands in Central America.
The Maya Blue composition was discovered only in the 1960s, while the creation method was discovered after a few years. At the base of a introduction ship present in Chichén ITZá, researchers identified Indigo, Maya Blue and Plygorskite with dissolved incense. And so it was theoretically that Maya Blue is likely to be created while burning Cobal’s rituals in the presence of the indigo and Palygorskite.
The blue color was a sacred color between the Maya, associated with sacrifice, water, rain and fertility. The sixteenth -century priest, Fry Diego de Landa, reported that human sacrifices and sacrifices were often blue.
The use of Maya Blue or the knowledge of its production is likely to be limited to a few artists. The ball explains that these craftsmen were likely to be sub -members of the Royal Court, and perhaps even individuals who are not registered for the royal family itself. The blue color was a sacred color for the Maya, and the manufacture of blue Mayan esoteric knowledge that could not have been widely shared or widely available.
“In our specific case, Blue has been associated with God Chaac, and Chaac was likely to be a sponsoring god Buenavista-komkom (this is the dictation of the modern Guatemalene of the center, which combines the modern name of the archaeological site, Buenvista, with the classic old name, Komkom) as well as Lineaage Royal.”
Chuck was the God of rain and was an important god in terms of maintaining the agricultural productivity of the Maya.
However, there are still many open questions about Maya Blue, including whether the Plygorskite used to manufacture was extracted locally or was brought from foreign sources.
The different Palygorskite samples have been analyzed between the 1960s and nineties, and the results showed that various mines can be distinguished through their various books. To date, Maya Blue is likely to come from the Holy Cenote and Chichén itzá from three mines: in Sacalum, Yo’sah Kab, and a third unknown source.

K’om polychrome Group Bowls from Buenavista Palace Deport Bvdc 32-3: (A) K’om Cream-Polychrome features a lord seated program and (B) blue and red unrestricted on cream design. Credit Ancient Central America (2025). Doi: 10.1017/s0956536125000082
To determine whether Maya Blue from Buenavista Del Cayo (referred to below the name Buenavista) was of non -local origin, different samples were analyzed recovered from the site.
Buenavista is located in the Blaise River Valley, it was a medium -sized center on the Rio Moban bank. During excavation, many festive vessels were recovered with Maya Blue, belonging to the late Classic (CA.
The analysis showed that the Palygorskite used in Buenavista was extracted in Sacalum, more than 375 km away.
Despite the presence of wild roads between the sites, it is possible that it is either Maya Blue or Plygorskite, as well as knowing their production, with the Maya marine projects along the coast of Yoskan in the north of the center, or from northeastern Quinetana Ro to the mouth of the Blaise River. Hence, the participants may have traveled towards the source to Boinavista.
According to Ball, these marine roads are likely to be faster, safer and more convenient. In particular, it was a faster and more efficient means of transporting goods from all types of wild travelers, given the maximum of 100 pounds possible through what is known as the “economy of the whining” (from the information of the era of contact with/from Mexico or Aztec).
“Low -class classic Mayan lands were a place for fixed, brutal and united war. The well -known roads of communication between Yokatan and the land of eastern/western lands have passed many different policies, probably hostile to foreigners and foreign merchants, especially those who hold very valuable charges. The ball explains his“ first journey). ”
The future work will focus on the investigation if the various Maya sites have one or multiple sources of sources, and why this modest small center (Buenavista) has this abundant access to this sacred pigment.
Written by our author Sandy OsterFree it Lisa lockCheck the facts and review it by Robert AgeanThis article is the result of an accurate human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent sciences alive. If these reports are important for you, please look at a file gift (Especially monthly). You will get Advertising As a thank you account.
More information:
Dean E. Arnold Et Al, Plygoskite from SACALUM, Yucatán in Maya Blue from low land in East Maya: new evidence from Buenavista Del Tree, Belize and La-ICP-MS, Ancient Central America (2025). Doi: 10.1017/s0956536125000082
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quote: Scientists follow the metal sources of the Blue Blue Blue in classic pottery late Boinavista, Blaise (2025, July 30).
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