At a glance
- When
- from the Preclassic, about 2000 BCE, through the Classic and Postclassic to the Spanish conquest
- Where
- southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador
- Entries in our catalogue
- 142 (134 individual genomes)
- Countries of the finds
- 4
What ancient DNA shows
A 2022 study of individuals from the Maya Mountains of Belize found that ancestry related to South American populations arrived in the region several thousand years ago, before intensive maize farming took hold, and mixed with earlier local ancestry.
A 2024 study in Nature of children buried at Chichen Itza found that the sacrificed individuals were all boys, many closely related, including two pairs of identical twins, and that they were genetically continuous with present-day Maya people living nearby.
Their genetic legacy today
Millions of people in southern Mexico and Central America are Maya, and ancient DNA shows direct continuity with the ancient population, alongside later European and African admixture after 1500 CE.
Maya samples in the MYDNATLAS catalogue
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 142 entries whose culture label names the Maya. 134 of them are individual genomes; the others are reference entries, such as averages of several individuals, and samples flagged as outliers. Half of the 142 dated entries fall between 817 CE and 950 CE, with a median of 875 CE.
Where they were found
| Country | Entries |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 121 |
| Belize | 17 |
| Honduras | 3 |
| Guatemala | 1 |
Most common labels
| Label | Entries |
|---|---|
| Maya (Mexico) | 119 |
| Maya (Belize) | 17 |
| Maya | 4 |
| Classic Maya | 1 |
| Maya (Guatemala) | 1 |
Measured from the live catalogue on 2026-10-17. Dates are those recorded for each entry; the archaeological dates of the culture are given above. See our data sources for where the samples come from.
Compare your DNA with the Maya
To see how close you sit to Maya samples, you need your DNA as G25 coordinates. Download your raw data file from your testing company, convert it, and MYDNATLAS compares your coordinates with these entries and the rest of the catalogue, period by period, in its closest population and mixture tools.
- Download your raw DNA file: step by step for each testing company.
- Upload it from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or FamilyTreeDNA, or another supported provider.
- Explore the results with the period by period breakdown and closest populations.
Start free: browse the Population Encyclopedia. The Population Encyclopedia is free to browse with a free account; analysing your own DNA needs a paid plan.
Questions
How many Maya samples does MYDNATLAS hold?
Our ancient DNA catalogue holds 142 entries labelled as Maya, of which 134 are individual genomes; the rest are reference entries such as group averages, and flagged outliers. Figures measured 2026-10-17.
Where were the Maya samples found?
They come from 4 countries, most often Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. Half of the dated entries fall between 817 CE and 950 CE.
Are modern Maya descended from the ancient Maya?
Yes. Studies of ancient Maya individuals find strong genetic continuity with present-day Maya communities in the same regions.