Mexican archaeologists have discovered an unusual Mayan tomb containing human remains.

PalenqueA city located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, once the capital of the Kingdom of Bacal and known for its many hieroglyphic monuments, works of art and architecture. The city declined at the end of the 8th century and was abandoned after the collapse of the southern Maya plain in the first half of the 9th century.

What is known about the tomb found

Scientists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico, who continue their studies on the Palenque complex, announced the new findings. The tomb was built of stone slabs, unusual for its location, and the remains of at least two people were found inside.

Human remains found in a tomb / Photograph: Instituto National de Antropologia e Historia

The main tomb contained the skeleton of a man buried in a posture typical for the period. Other remains originally belonged to an adult woman who was buried elsewhere, but her bones were later moved to the stone tomb when the soft tissues had already decomposed. Examination of the woman’s teeth showed she was probably between 25 and 28 years old at the time of her death, but the displaced remains have not been confirmed as belonging to the same person.

Other findings

Funeral offerings were also found in the tomb, including ceramic vessels and green stone figurines. Although radiocarbon dating of the bones has yet to be done, archaeologists believe the tombs date to the 9th century AD.

Ceramic plates found in the tomb / Photograph: Instituto National de Antropologia e Historia

Figurine discovered at burial site / Photo: Instituto National de Antropologia e Historia

The discovery of the unusual tomb is important to understanding the history of Palenque and Mayan burial rites, which continue to reveal new details about the ancient civilization.

Meanwhile. Recently, researchers discovered that the Maya civilization was much more advanced than previously thought. Using radar (LiDAR), the scientists discovered a network of about 800 Maya settlements and a vast network of interconnected “highways.” These ancient roads consist of dirt roads. All of them (together with hundreds of cities, towns and villages) testify to the high level of organization of pre-classical civilization.