She sounds like the most badass woman to ever rule pre-colonial South America: Queen K'abel of the Maya, one of the greatest leaders of Classic Maya civilization. Archaelogists have known about her reign through plaques that commemorate her reign. But now, a research team working in Guatemala has finally discovered…

The Mayans used a short shaft of wood like a gun in battle, sending darts toward incoming attackers at amazing speeds. It may not have been powered by gunpowder, but it was still an effective killing tool.

The works of Mexico City artist Raul Cruz envision a far-off future where Aztec and Mayan aesthetics mesh with yet-to-be-invented technologies.