In the remote ruins of a secondary Maya center near Tikal, researchers have identified a specialized workshop focused on the production of high-status feather-work garments. The stone foundations of the building contain unique limestone wall carvings that illustrate the entire process of artisan work, including the sorting of brilliant quetzal and hummingbird feathers by color and size.
Chemical analysis of the floors revealed high concentrations of organic adhesives made from tree resins, which were used to bond the feathers to bark-paper backings. This atelier provides the first structural evidence of how these fragile, prestigious items—often seen in Maya murals but rarely preserved—were actually manufactured by master craftsmen.