Joya de Cerén: A Window into the Past

Since around AD 600, the pre-Hispanic Mayan farming village of Joya de Cerén slept undisturbed beneath thick layers of ash four to eight meters deep. offering us a unique window into the past. With much of the Joya de Cerén yet to be excavated, each new discovery provides evidence of the ancient Mayans’ wealth of wisdom. The investigations tell us a story of a very well organized and spiritual farming community that is part of a more intricate network of cities, villages, and settlements. Moreover, the discoveries have helped researchers link some modern-day customs and practices to the ancestral activities and beliefs from which they began.