A Teotihuacan complex at the Classic Maya city of Tikal, Guatemala

Lidar technology has uncovered evidence of a Teotihuacan-style complex at the Classic Maya city of Tikal, Guatemala. This complex appears to replicate key architectural features of the Ciudadela and Temple of the Feathered Serpent from Teotihuacan, suggesting significant cultural influence or interaction between these two major Mesoamerican centers during the Classic period (250–600 CE). The discovery challenges previous assumptions about Tikal's independence and underscores its role as a possible hub for Teotihuacan's imperial expansion. Researchers employed lidar to penetrate dense jungle canopy, revealing structural patterns that align with known Teotihuacan designs.

Houston, S., Ramírez, E. R., Garrison, T. G., Stuart, D., Ayala, H. E., & Rosales, P. (2021). A Teotihuacan complex at the Classic Maya city of Tikal, Guatemala. Antiquity, 95(384). https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2021.140