Using advanced ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and LiDAR, researchers have identified a massive Maya ceremonial complex buried beneath centuries of sediment in the Petén Basin. Dating back to the late Preclassic period, the structure has been dubbed the Temple of the Jaguar-Sun due to its specific alignment with the winter solstice and the presence of massive limestone masks.
The excavation revealed that the temple served as a primary astronomical observatory for early Maya royalty. Researchers found remnants of red-pigmented stucco on the temple’s facade, suggesting that the entire structure was once a vibrant crimson color, symbolizing the blood of the earth and the heat of the rising sun.