Jade mask found in tomb of Mayan king in Guatemala

Archaeologists conducting excavations in the pyramid tomb of a Mayan king in Peten, northern Guatemala, have uncovered a jade mask believed to belong to the monarch

During archaeological excavations at Chochkitam in the Peten region of northeastern Guatemala, an interlocking jade mask was discovered in the pyramid tomb of a Mayan king.

The jade mask found in the Chochkitam settlement, which was first declared a protected area in 1909, was used to symbolize gods or ancestors in the Maya cult and is thought to have been used to reflect the wealth and influence of the people buried.

Through the remote-sensing method, lidar, in 2021 archaeologists discovered that an illegal tunnel had been dug by robbers into the pyramid’s central structure, National Geographic reported.

Following the discovery of the tunnel, scientific investigations have revealed a collection of grave goods. These include a human skull, multiple teeth and bone fragments, a coffin-shaped stone box, a jar, oyster shells, and numerous pieces of jade. When assembled, these jade pieces form an intricate jade mask.

The words ‘Itzam Kokaj Bahlam’ found on some of the bones are thought to be the name of the Mayan king of Chochkitam around 350 A.D., when the pyramid tomb was dated.

Source: Newsroom