WASHINGTON – An examination of numerous houses excavated at two sites in southern Belize is providing insight into gaping wealth inequality in ancient Maya cities – a disparity that researchers believe was closely linked to despotic leadership.
Archaeologists on Wednesday said they studied remains of 180 homes in the medium-sized city of Uxbenk and 93 homes in the smaller nearby city of Ix Kuku’il, which both flourished during the so-called Classic Maya period from roughly 250 to 900 AD.
During this time, the Maya produced soaring pyramids and wondrous works of sculpture and painting, employed hieroglyphic writing and excelled at calendar-making and mathemat…
Keep on reading: Maya ruins in Belize offer peek at ancient wealth inequality