Ancient architecture shows public opinion influenced Maya divine kings

Excavation of a council house at the major Lowland Maya center of Ucanal, Guatemala, reveals how the public gained some influence over Maya politics more than 1,000 years ago. These colonnaded, open halls were likely council houses, where political leaders met to deliberate on governmental decisions. The open structures contrast with previous Classic period palaces, where "divine" rulers made political decisions in more private spaces. This shows the increasing importance of consensus-based politics from c. 810–950 AD onward.