Five major earthquakes since the Late Classic Maya Period on the Motagua Fault in Guatemala

Research reveals that the Motagua Fault, part of the North American-Caribbean plate boundary, has ruptured five times in the last 1,300 years, causing significant ground surface changes and influencing cultural and architectural adaptations. These findings, derived from paleoseismic evidence including radiocarbon dating of fault scarp-derived colluvial wedges and damage/repair records at Maya and Colonial sites, indicate variable earthquake recurrence with intervals of seismic quiescence. The study provides critical insights into the seismic character of the Motagua Fault, improving estimates for current and future seismic risk in Guatemala.

Niemi, T. M., Grützner, C., Flores Beltetón, O., Alberto Romero, L., Gomez, F., Maurer, J., McEnaney, T., Daniels, R., Dollens, A., Ebell, H., Pérez Arias, C., Graettinger, A. H., & Obrist-Farner, J. (2026). Five major earthquakes since the Late Classic Maya Period on the Motagua Fault in Guatemala. Communications Earth & Environment, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03271-y