Ancient Maya ritual red pigment contaminated nearby lakes with mercury

Ancient Maya ritual practices left a lasting mercury footprint in nearby lakes.

Ancient Maya communities used cinnabar red pigment for decoration and rituals, leaving high levels of mercury in nearby lakes for centuries. Researchers found that this persistent contamination impacted aquatic life and posed health risks to local populations. The findings highlight widespread environmental damage across multiple historical settlements.

• The materialThe Maya relied heavily on a bright red mineral called cinnabar for various ritualistic and decorative purposes.
• The consequenceElevated levels of heavy metal toxicity persisted in local aquatic ecosystems for hundreds of years after the settlements were abandoned.