Ancient Maya tomb uncovers regal riches of a long-lost king

[Judi Lynn]

By Knowridge -February 7, 2024



In the dense jungles of Guatemala, near the borders with Mexico and Belize, archaeologists have unearthed an ancient Maya tomb that dates back 1,700 years.

This significant find was made at the site of Chochkitam, revealing a treasure trove of artifacts and offering new insights into the Maya civilization during an era that remains largely mysterious.

Among the extraordinary items discovered within the tomb were a mosaic jade mask, rare mollusk shells from the spondylus oyster, and human femur bones with carved writings.

These carvings depict a man, believed to be a previously unknown king, holding a jade mask similar to the one found in the tomb.

More:
https://knowridge.com/2024/02/ancient-maya-tomb-uncovers-regal-riches-of-a-long-lost-king/

[Judi Lynn]

1. 'Extremely Rare' Jade Mask Found in Maya King's Tomb From 1,700 Years Ago

'Published Feb 04, 2024 at 6:00 AM E

By Aristos Georgiou
Science and Health Reporter

Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a remarkable and "extremely rare" jade mask from the tomb of an ancient Maya king who died around 1,700 years ago.

The stunning mask, which is thought to have belonged to the king, was found in June 2022, during investigations in the ancient city of Chochkitam—a little known Maya archaeological site nestled within the dense rainforest of northeastern Guatemala in the Petén department.

Researchers dated the tomb to around A.D. 350, making it one of the oldest royal burials from the Maya Classic Period (A.D. 250 to 900) ever found, archaeologist and National Geographic explorer Francisco Estrada-Belli told Newsweek.

The Maya civilization dominated what is now southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and the western areas of El Salvador and Honduras for more than 3,000 years until the era of Spanish colonization.

More:
https://www.newsweek.com/extremely-rare-jade-mask-found-maya-king-tomb-1700-years-ago-1866506

[Deuxcents]

2. The Maya intrigue me.

I think it’s because they, like the Vikings, were such an impressive civilization with their history, as we know it, and then after all they accomplished, they just disappeared without a written record of what became of them. So mysterious putting the pieces of the puzzle together