Archaeologists in Guatemala have unearthed the ruins of a Mayan complex dating back nearly 3,000 years, revealing pyramids, sanctuaries, and an unusual system of canals that could offer fresh insight into the ancient civilization, according to the country’s Minister of Culture.

The discovery spans three archaeological sites — Los Abuelos, Petnal, and Cambrayal — located near the prominent Mayan city of Uaxactún in the Petén region of northern Guatemala, the Ministry of Culture and Sports announced.

The Mayan civilization began around 2000 BCE and flourished between 400 and 900 CE, primarily in present-day Guatemala and Mexico. During its peak, the Maya built monumental architecture, including temples and pyramids, and developed sophisticated systems of writing, astronomy, and mathematics.

Los Abuelos — which translates to “The Grandparents” in Spanish — lies approximately 13 miles from Uaxactún. It is named after two human-like stone figures found at the site, believed to depict an ancestral couple. Alongside these statues, the presence of several ritual sanctuaries suggests the area played a central role in Mayan ceremonial life, said Vice Minister of Culture Luis Rodrigo Carrillo during a press briefing.

According to a video statement by the ministry, the site contains one of the most important ritual centers in the region, marked by significant sanctuaries, adding that the find could help reshape our understanding of early Mayan religious practices.

To the east of Los Abuelos lies Petnal, home to a 108-foot tall pyramid. At its summit, archaeologists discovered two well-preserved rooms adorned with murals portraying various symbolic images, Carrillo explained.

Meanwhile, in Cambrayal — about three miles (4.8 kilometers) from Los Abuelos — researchers identified a palace structure that contains a system of unique water canals, a feature the ministry described as particularly significant.

The ministry noted that these three sites form a previously unknown urban triangle, whose existence was entirely unknown until now, pointing out that these new archaeological discoveries are a powerful testament to the grandeur of Mayan culture — a legacy now shared with the world.

The discoveries were made by a collaborative team of Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists, with support from international researchers and Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, as part of the Uaxactún Archaeological Project (PARU).

While new Mayan discoveries are relatively rare, advances in technology and ongoing research continue to reveal hidden sites. Just last April, archaeologists uncovered a 1,700-year-old altar containing human remains in the nearby ancient city of Tikal. Interestingly, experts believe that altar was not decorated by the Maya but by artisans trained in the distant city of Teotihuacan.

In recent years, scientists have also been using laser-based mapping (LiDAR) to uncover previously unknown Mayan cities and networks, illustrating how interconnected the civilization’s urban centers truly were.