Meet Emily, archaeologist in training.

Emily's father was an archaeologist. He got to travel the world, seeing amazing sights.

This often left Emily wondering when she’d get to go on such an amazing adventure. 

What is

Archaeologists study the history of people all throughout time by searching for artifacts left behind that were used in the ancient past.

This gives us clues to how these ancient people lived before, what their society was like, and how they saw the world around them. 

For a new trip, Emily’s father allowed her to accompany him to an exploration site. 

They were going to Chichén Itzá, in south-central Yucatán state, Mexico.

Once arid, it is now surrounded by jungle and was supported by water from cenotes, or regional sinkholes.

Traveling to the jungle-like terrain of Central America, they were so far from their normal world. 

There were no uniform houses neatly lined up in a block with green yards in between.

No shopping centers with some of Emily and her father’s go-to supermarkets. 

Instead, they witnessed the beauty of blooming plants and all the wildest critters anyone could imagine: colorful birds, patterned wildcats, amphibians, and more!