Katherine KorneiThe Maya city of Tikal is famous for its soaring palaces and temples. But something far more humble kept Tikal functioning: its water filtration system, the earliest known of its kind.
Researchers recently discovered a volcanic mineral that captures microbes and heavy metals in one of Tikal’s largest reservoirs.
Because the material is not found nearby, the finding suggests the presence of a deliberate filter.The finding contradicts the long-standing idea that the ancient world’s technological prowess was concentrated in places such as Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China, says study co-author Kenneth Tankersley, an archaeological geologist at the University of Cincinnati (UC).