Whether similar patterns of transport applied in the Maya context is not established.

The Chichén Itzá findings add to this broader picture by providing unprecedented genetic detail about the demographic composition and kinship structure of a specific child sacrifice context.

No previous study of ancient Mesoamerican child sacrifice has generated genome-wide data from 64 individuals, identified close relative pairings among them, and found two pairs of identical twins.

The methodological advance represented by the 2024 study is significant for the broader study of Mesoamerican ritual practice, not just for Chichén Itzá specifically.

The Aftermath of the Colonial Contact