A new study found a huge amount of mercury pollution in ancient Maya cities from the Classic period (250-1100 CE) — so much that it’s actually a danger to archaeologists today. Of the 11 sites tested, it was present in all but one. Concentrations ranged from .016 ppm (in Actuncan) to a crazy 17.16 ppm (Tikal). If you’re wondering how that happened, archaeologists have found vessels containing liquid mercury, as well as objects painted with cinnabar and mercury-containing paint. The paint, in particular, probably leached into the soil from walls, ceramics, etc. The Maya were at risk of chronic mercury poisoning and at least one depiction of a Maya ruler shows possible symptoms of it. This brings me back to the liquid mercury “river” found beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan years ago.