Ruben Mendoza is an archaeologist and a professor at California State University who teaches on the topics of social sciences and global studies. While not part of this latest discovery, he has done ample research into the topic of the Maya sacrifices and has written a book about the practice of ritual sacrifice in Mesoamerica.
He responded to this archaeological revelation and how it has seemingly debunked some long-held assumptions.
“This characterization of Maya sacrifice was catapulted to the forefront through media depictions of young maidens (aka virgins) being hurled to their deaths at the Sacred Well,” said Mendoza.
In other words, we assumed movies and TV shows were showing stories based on archaeological findings. However, like many things depicted in entertainment, it seems these depictions were more focused on creating an emotional response in audiences than prioritizing accuracy.