New research has shed light on the rituals surrounding the construction of a ballcourt in the ancient Maya city of Yaxnohcah. A collecting of botanicals, subjected to environmental DNA analysis, has led to the unveiling of the remnants of a ceremonial offering beneath the court’s sediment layer, located in the Yucatán Peninsula. In Maya society, much like in modern Western culture, ball games served not only as recreational activities but also as political and spiritual affairs.

Games such as pok-a-tok and pelota were deeply intertwined with religious practices and often played in arenas situated near important temples. This detailed study has been published in the latest edition of the journal PLoS One.

The research was conducted by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History in partnership with scholars from the University of Calgary, the Autonomous University of Campeche, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Between 2016 and 2022, researchers focused their efforts at Yaxnohcah in Campeche, approximately 9 miles (14.48km) north of the Guatemala border. Their excavation efforts centered on a limited section of a ballcourt, aiming to uncover insights into ancient Maya practices and rituals.

Goodwill of the Gods: Incurring the Blessings of the Gods

The attention of the archaeologists was initially drawn to a large, dark stain in the soil, which led to the commencement of this research. Their method involved collecting samples in sealable, cryogenic tubes and carefully preserving them during transportation from the field to the lab. To ensure sample integrity, the researchers treated the specimens with RNAlater, a solution designed to inhibit bacterial growth in soil samples.

UC Professor David Lentz holds up a sculpture that bears reproductions of ancient Maya glyphs. (Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand)

The analysis disclosed that the stain comprised remnants of four plant varieties, each carrying recognized “religious associations and medicinal properties,” frequently utilized by the Maya. Among these botanicals was a morning glory species referred to as xtabentun, renowned for its hallucinogenic attributes. In addition, lancewood and chili peppers were identified. These plants were subsequently encased in the leaves of the  jool plant, a customary practice in Maya rituals.

A carved stone decorative ring is embedded in the wall of a ballcourt at Chichen Itza. (LanaCanada/UC)

“When [the ancient Maya] erected a new building, they asked the goodwill of the gods to protect the people inhabiting it,” explained study author Professor David Lentz in a statement published by the University of Cincinnati. “Some people call it an ‘ensouling ritual,’ to get a blessing from and appease the gods,” he says, although others refer to the practice as a “fix earth” ritual. “The nearest analogy today might be like christening a new ship,” added Lentz.

Traditionally, sacrificial offerings in Maya ceremonies often included plant matter, but identifying such offerings has been challenging due to decomposition over time. Using specialized probes sensitive to local species.

Xtabentun and Chili Peppers: Hallucinating and Healing

For the researchers, xtabentun is of particular interest as it is a type of morning glory whose seeds contain psychedelic compounds reminiscent of LSD. This flowering vine native to Mexico and Central America, particularly prevalent in the Yucatán Peninsula, has been utilized by ancient Aztec priests for communion with deities, suggesting the possibility of ritual intoxication and divination among the Maya. On the other hand, within Maya tradition, chili peppers are esteemed for their healing properties and are employed to treat various ailments, reports Live Science.

Print of Ipomoea corymbosa from Edwards Botanical Register. (Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden/Lentz DL, et al. PLoS ONE (2024)

“Because of its hallucinogenic properties, the xtabentun find suggests that the purpose of this unusual collection may have been connected with divination,” write the study authors. “An even stronger possibility, however, was that this was part of an ensouling or fix earth ritual designed to propitiate the gods in a way that would ensure their blessings in subsequent activities associated with the newly constructed ceremonial ballcourt space.

Indeed, interpreting ancient practices like those uncovered at the Maya ball court poses significant challenges. The passage of 2,000 years of prehistory makes it difficult to discern the precise intent and meaning behind ceremonial offerings. Despite these challenges, Dr. Lentz and the research team acknowledge the groundbreaking nature of their findings.

Top image: A limestone panel depicting two Maya Mesoamerican ballgame players. Usumacinta River area, Guatemala.  Source: Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund; Art Institute Chicago/CC BY 3.0

By Sahir Pandey