Maya Blue by Lady_Disdain
Tulum is well known among archeologists for the excellent murals done in Maya blue, specially in the temple of the Frescoes.Maya blue is a pigment used by Classical and Post Classical Mayas, which is very resistent to the weather and does not fade (but the plaster beneath it may crumble away). It is a bright turquoise blue and very striking.
This pigment was used for several centuries, from around 800aD to around 1560 (yes, even after the Spanish conquest), when the recipe was lost.
Maya Blue puzzled scientists for a long time after the rediscovery of the maya ruins. Recently, however, it was determined to be a misture of mineral (montmorillonite) and vegetable (indigo) dyes, on a white clay base (palygorskite).
Today, the Templo de los Frescos is closed to the public and extensive work is being done to preserve these paintings (even a resistent pigment deteriorates after a few centuries in the rain forests). Since I had gone to Tulum mostly because of these frescoes, I was disappointed (but it should teach me to research throughly when planning!)