Ancient Maya cities used red pigment in temples; study finds it left mercury in lakes for centuries

NewsScience NewsAncient Maya cities used a vivid red pigment in temples and burials; a new study finds the mineral left toxic mercury in lakes for centuries and damaged aquatic life across multiple levels of the food chain Ancient Maya cities used a vivid red pigment in temples and burials; a new study finds the mineral left toxic mercury in lakes for centuries and damaged aquatic life across multiple levels of the food chain TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 08, 2026, 13:48 IST Red pigment used in Rosalila Temple.

Image Source: WikiMedia Commons There were many practices done back in the day that were harmful for people, without them even realising it. But few still continue to cause that harm, even without us doing them today.In this case, a striking red pigment used by the ancient Maya to decorate their temples, artefacts and burial chambers may have left behind a rather unpleasant legacy.A new study published in Science Advanceshas found that the mercury-rich mineral used to produce this pigment contaminated lakes across the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

The contamination persisted for centuries, with mercury levels high enough to damage aquatic organisms across multiple levels of the food chain. And while the Maya stopped using the pigment long ago, traces of their activities remain buried beneath the water.What did the ancient Maya use mercury for?

The ancient Maya civilisation flourished across parts of present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Known for their impressive architecture, intricate writing system, advances in mathematics and understanding of astronomy, the Maya also placed considerable importance on colour and symbolism.

One of their prized materials was cinnabar, a naturally occurring bright red mineral made primarily of mercury sulphide. Its vivid colour made it particularly valuable for decorating murals, temples, pottery and other objects.

However, its significance went beyond aesthetics. The colour red was associated with blood, life and the soul, making cinnabar an important material in religious ceremonies and funerary practices.It was also used in burials, where powdered cinnabar was sometimes scattered over the deceased and their belongings.

The mineral was considered precious enough to be traded across considerable distances, particularly in areas where it was not naturally available.What the Maya could not have known was that the beautiful pigment they were handling contained mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal.

Over generations, the mineral would have found its way into the surrounding soil through its use in buildings, ceremonies and burials. From there, rainwater and natural runoff could carry traces of mercury into nearby lakes and reservoirs.How has this mercury affected aquatic life?

This is not the first time researchers have discovered traces of ancient Maya mercury use in the environment. Earlier investigations at sites such as Tikal in Guatemala had already revealed substantial contamination in the soil and water reservoirs.A 2020 study of Tikal's ancient reservoirs found mercury concentrations as high as 17 micrograms per gram in certain sediment samples.

Several samples exceeded the modern threshold used to identify heavily polluted sediments, with some recording levels more than ten times that benchmark.Researchers suspected that cinnabar used in the city's temples and ceremonial spaces had gradually entered its water reservoirs through runoff.

This was particularly concerning because these reservoirs were important sources of water for the city's inhabitants.A 2022 review published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, which examined mercury measurements from 10 ancient Maya settlements, further established how widespread the problem could be.

7 of the 10 sites had recorded at least one location with mercury concentrations exceeding modern environmental toxicity benchmarks.More recently, a 2024 study at Ucanal in Guatemala found that mercury concentrations in ancient water reservoirs during the Terminal Classic Period were around 300% higher than levels recorded in earlier periods.Together, these findings suggest that mercury contamination was not an isolated incident at one or two cities.

It was a much broader environmental consequence of a material that had been used across the Maya world for centuries.A legacy that outlasted the civilisation The ancient Maya were remarkably skilled at understanding and shaping their environment.

They built sophisticated cities, developed elaborate water-management systems and created works of art that have survived for centuries. Yet, their use of cinnabar also reveals how a material valued for its beauty and cultural significance can have consequences that are not immediately visible.The latest research does not suggest that mercury alone brought down the Maya civilisation.

It does, however, offer another perspective on the environmental pressures that existed during its final centuries. Perhaps the most unsettling part is that the pigment's effects did not disappear when the temples were abandoned or the ceremonies stopped.

The lakes continued to hold traces of what had entered them centuries earlier, preserving a record of the damage in their sediments.Some ancient practices leave behind monuments, stories and beautiful works of art. Others leave something rather less desirable.

The Maya's prized red pigment managed to do both. The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India.

Consider us your scientific companion, delivering a daily dose of wonder and enlightenment. Whether it's the intricacies of genetic engineering, the marvels of space exploration, or the latest in artificial intelligence, the TOI Science Desk ensures you stay...