King's tomb yields Mayan secrets

Ancient archaeology, star gates, the Mars connection, searching for lost Atlantis, evidence of ancient catastrophies, underwater cities...

Moderator: Super Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
megman
Parrothead
Posts: 13243
Joined: 08-07-2000 02:00 AM

King's tomb yields Mayan secrets

Post by megman » 07-20-2010 03:43 PM

GUATEMALA CITY - Archeologists in Guatemala have discovered a Mayan king's tomb packed with a well-preserved hoard of carvings, ceramics and children's bones that cast fresh light on the vanished civilization.

Researchers uncovered the burial chamber dating from 300 - 600 AD beneath the El Diablo pyramid in the city of El Zotz in the jungle-covered Peten region in May, but the discovery was only made public Thursday.

The well-sealed tomb -- measuring 10 feet l, by nearly 4 feet wide wide and 5 feet deep -- helped preserve textiles, wood carvings and red and yellow ceramics decorated with fish and wild boar motifs, researchers said.

"It's like their Fort Knox, their depositary of wealth with textiles and ... trade items and that's what's overwhelming about it," said Stephen Houston, the dig's director at El Zotz, who is based at Brown University in the United States.

Rest of article
Still an Original Pirate since Aug 2000
Wanna ride the Zamboni?

Linnea
Moderator
Posts: 14985
Joined: 04-22-2000 02:00 AM

Post by Linnea » 07-21-2010 12:59 PM

Fascinating article, megman. El Zotz - 'The Bat'.

I am dismayed about the children's bones found in the tomb. <shudder>

How can we expect any enlightenment from a society which practiced human sacrifice, especially on infants and young children...
:(

This is a photo of one of the carvings...

Post Reply

Return to “Ancient Archaeology”