Rare 1,700-Year-Old Maya Tomb Unearthed—Discovery of a Lifetime
A RARE Jade Mask Unearthed Inside a 1,700-Year-Old Maya Tomb is a Gamechanger
According to Live Science, a jade mask, associated with a Maya storm god, has been discovered inside an ancient Maya king’s tomb.
The Discovery of the Jade Mask in Chochkitam
The jade mask, along with rare mollusk shells and carved human femur bones, was discovered by a Tulane University archaeologist at a site called Chochkitam.
The Significance of the Find
The carved bone, which portrays an unknown king holding a similar jade mask, has hieroglyphs linking the king to the Maya states of Tikal and Teotihuacan. Additionally, 16 mollusk shells and a rare spiny oyster were found alongside the mask.
The Importance of the Oysters
The oyster served multiple purposes for the royals at the time, with uses extending to jewelry, currency, and religious and sacrificial offerings.
Revelation of the Jade Mask and Other Artifacts
Francisco Estrada-Belli, the lead archaeologist on the study, emphasized the significance of the discovery, dubbing it a “bit like winning the lottery in terms of information” that “opens a window into an obscure time we have very little texts about.”
The Historical and Scientific Implications
Estrada-Belli went on to highlight the importance of finds like this, as they are crucial to the historical and scientific understanding of the Maya Classic period, which dates back to around AD 250 to 900. His sentiment was echoed by Marcello A. Canuto, who remarked that these unearthing and their implications demonstrate Tulane’s commitment to the study of ancient indigenous American peoples and their accomplishments.
Looters and Discoveries
The tomb was initially discovered in 2022, just in time before looters attempted to reach it. Although- there were looters- the tomb remained relatively intact, and well-preserved, offering a rare glimpse into the Maya culture from centuries ago.
Final Words
The excavation has proved to be an extremely rare archaeological find as many similar tombs were looted in the past. This discovery has shed light on the ancient Maya civilization and their magnificent culture that thrived hundreds of years ago.