Discovery in Guatemala finds oldest royal Mayan tomb (350 B.C.)

[Judi Lynn]

Discovery in Guatemala finds oldest royal Mayan tomb
April 6, 2011 by Deborah Braconnier

Excavating under a wealthy home, they discovered a lid leading to a tunnel of about 16 inches wide. Following the tunnel, they discovered a chultan, or storage chamber, where a burial was performed.

Within this storage chamber they discovered a body they believe to have been a man in his fifties who was reasonably healthy when he died. Within the chultan they also discovered a collection of seven ceramic containers, including the piece that signified the royal find.

An incense burner with the “jester god headdress” symbol, a known symbol of royalty, was found alongside the body.

The pottery found comes from the period when Mayan ceramics began to change to that of the deep red color, dating this find back to 350BC. Radiocarbon dating of a bone sample from the body confirms this date, making this find the oldest royal Mayan tomb ever discovered.

More:
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-discovery-guatemala-oldest-royal-mayan.html

[sybylla]

1. Nice find!

And a great story.