Maya Civilization Poisoned Waterways with Mercury from Red Paint, Study Reveals
A new study has found that the ancient Maya civilization inadvertently poisoned its lakes and waterways with mercury due to their extensive use of red paint. The primary culprit was cinnabar, a mercury-sulfide mineral used as a vivid red pigment. Runoff from this paint entered water systems, where anaerobic bacteria converted the cinnabar into highly toxic methylmercury, which then accumulated in the food chain. The Maya, who inhabited what is now southern Mexico and Central America, painted a vast array of objects red, including sculptures, monuments, walls, pottery, and even the deceased for ceremonial purposes. This widespread use of cinnabar, alongside red ocher, led to an environmental disaster. Matthew Waters, a paleolimnologist at Auburn University and lead author of the study, noted that the Maya's passion for the color red, symbolizing the sun, blood, and life, resulted in significant water contamination. Previous research had indicated high mercury levels in other Maya regions, but this study spe...
