The first direct evidence of pre-columbian sources of palygorskite for Maya Blue

► We analyze palygorskite from sources in Yucatán, Mexico using LA-ICP-MS. ► Y, V, and Cr distinguish these sources from one another. ► We compare these analyses with those of Maya Blue from Chichén Itzá and Palenque. ► The Maya Blue samples used palygorskite from Sacalum and near Ticul. ► These data are first evidence modern palygorskite sources were used for Maya Blue.