Ancient Maya sacrificed boys.

A recent study has revealed evidence of ancient Maya child sacrifices, specifically young boys who were often chosen as closely related pairs, including twins. The discovery was made at Chichén Itzá, a prominent Maya city in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. DNA analysis of the remains confirmed that the sacrificed individuals were male, challenging previous assumptions that females were sacrificed for fertility rites. The findings suggest that the sacrifices were performed to appease the rain god Chaac and ensure the growth of maize crops. The burial chamber where the remains were found is believed to have been a repurposed cistern or an artificial cave. The researchers speculate that the closely related boys were chosen as stand-ins for the Hero Twins, powerful mythological figures in Maya culture. The ritual sacrifices of boys were likely associated with agricultural practices and may have been influenced by ancestral Yucatec rain invocation ceremonies still practiced by traditional Maya communities. The sex of the deity to whom sacrifices were made may have determined the sex of the offerings. [Extracted from the article]