German TV highlights UC expert's ancient Maya discoveries

German Public Television highlighted the archaeology research of a University of Cincinnati expert who studies the ancient Maya.

UC College of Arts and Sciences paleoethnobotanist David Lentz uses the latest tools to learn more about the Maya through the plants they cultivated, consumed and used in rituals and daily life.

The program “Unsolved Cases” visited Lentz in Calakmul for a documentary that examined the simplest human creation: the ball. The show examined the many ways ancient civilizations used spheres as tools and toys alike.

The documentary was produced by filmmakers Peter Prestel and Gisela Graichen.

Lentz talked about his discovery that the ancient Maya blessed their ballcourts. That study was published in 2024 in the journal PLOS One. Lentz said he and his research partners found a ceremonial bundle buried at the edge of a ballcourt.

“The plant that was most interesting to me was called Xtabentun, which has hallucinogenic properties and was used by people across Mesoamerica for divination,” he said. “And that allowed them to interact with the gods.”

Lentz noted that these gestures all had one general goal.

“Everything they did was a ritual to appease the gods. If they did not appease the gods, they would suffer. Death would rage, the harvests would fail and other bad things would happen,” he said.

Featured image at top: UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor David Lentz spoke to filmmakers in Calakmul about how the ancient Maya blessed their ballcourts. Photo/Unsolved Case