Ancient DNA from people buried up to 1,600 years ago in Honduras have revealed clues to the rise and fall of the Maya.

While the Mayan empire was at its height centuries ago, the Mayan people, language and customs carry on into the present day.

Today, Mam and other Mayan languages are expanding their reach, as indigenous people from Mexico ... alphabet – have survived until the present day. "The use of Mayan languages was so common ...

Archaeologists working in northern Guatemala (formerly the Mayan city of Dos Pilas) recently discovered fragments of more than 100 human bones which researchers believe belonged to those sacrificed by ...

We also sampled DNA from 68 present-day Maya people from the nearby town of Tixcacaltuyub. By comparing the modern and ancient genomes, the study revealed long-term genetic continuity. However ...

to preserve the “historical memory of the Mayan people.” It was fascinating to learn how past suffering had left a stamp on the immune system of present-day Maya communities, Tiesler added.

Credit: Johannes Krause According to the archeologists, this points towards a tendency for sacrifices to involve closely related young people more ... the aid of 68 present-day Maya locals living ...

We also sampled DNA from 68 present-day Maya people from the nearby town of Tixcacaltuyub. By comparing the modern and ancient genomes, the study revealed long-term genetic continuity. However ...