At the archaeological site of Caracol, researchers have unearthed a collection of turquoise-inlaid jaguar-head pendants within a hidden chamber of a solar observatory. Chemical analysis of the gemstones suggests they originated from a single distant source in the northern highlands, indicating a high-status pilgrimage network for an annual 'Fire-Kindling' ceremony held at the start of the planting season. This ritual was intended to harness the power of the sun to ensure a bountiful harvest.
The pendants were found resting on a bed of charred pine needles, a traditional incense material. According to the excavation report, the alignment of the chamber with the spring equinox suggests that the artifacts were part of a precisely timed performance where sunlight would illuminate the jaguar's eyes. This discovery pushes back the known date of organized solar festivals in the Maya lowlands by several centuries.