Maya cities in Central America are known for their great temples and pyramids, rising out of the jungle. Until now, everyone believed they were built by kings and local rulers. Lisa Lucero, a professor at Illinois, challenges that thinking, saying that other people built pyramids and temples too.

Judging by the varieties of construction and materials, any number of different groups – nobles, priests and even commoners – may have built temples, and their temples undoubtedly served their different purposes and gods.”

That different groups had the wherewithal – the will, resources and freedom – to build temples, suggests to Lucero that “the Maya could choose which temples to worship in and support; they had a voice in who succeeded politically.”

Since 2002, Lucero has been studying Yalbac, a Maya center in the jungle of central Belize. While largely unknown – except to looters and loggers – Yalbac is a rich site. In addition to six temples, it also includes two plazas, a large royal residence or acropolis, and a ball court. Several of the temples are likely royal, three likely residential or memorial. None so far has been cleared of surface debris.

EurekAlert: Royals weren’t only builders of Maya temples, archaeologist finds

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I’m in Belize now, and expect to be climbing a pyramid in the jungle soon! (One of my favorite activities ever since I was 10.) We’re preparing our women’s trip to Belize, on which you could have a chance to climb a pyramid, too. We’ll be announcing it in our newsletter soon.