Pictures: Mysterious Maya Tomb Explored for First Time
An entrance to a Maya burial chamber is decorated with vibrant red wall murals—the first look scientists have gotten of a mysterious tomb discovered in 1999.
For the first time, a team of researchers from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) recently entered the tomb, which also contains 11 vessels as well as pieces of jade, according to an INAH statement.
A commonly used color often chosen for royal tomb adornment, red signified blood to the Maya and was considered a sacred life force, said David Stuart, a Maya scholar at the University of Texas, Austin.
Perhaps the tomb’s most captivating characteristics are the bright, crimson murals painted within (pictured).
These particular murals, Stuart said, are of “a very strange style” for Palenque, which is known for its realistic renderings of figures.
Now that they have access, researchers are excavating the roughly 1,500-year-old tomb (pictured).
After it was first found, a remotely operated camera was sent down to photograph its interior—but nobody has been allowed to enter until now.
Nine figures, such as this close-up profile, are depicted on the tomb’s walls.
INAH hypothesizes that its occupant could be K’uk’ B’ahlam, who reigned from A.D. 431 to 435 and was the founder of Pakal’s dynasty. More.
A French-Peruvian-Spanish Team Discovers a (Burial?) Chamber in Machu Picchu
MIAMI, FL, - For more than fifteen years, Thierry Jamin, French Archaeologist and adventurer, explores the jungles of South Peru in every possible direction, searching for clues of the permanent presence of the Incas in the Amazonian forest, and the legendary lost city of Paititi. After the discovery of about thirty incredible archeological sites, located in the North of the department of Cuzco, between 2009 and 2011, which include several fortresses, burial and ceremonial, centers, and small Inca cities composed by hundreds of buildings, and many streets, passages, squares…, Thierry Jamin embarks on an incredible journey in Machu Picchu.
A few months ago, Thierry Jamin and his team think they have realized an extraordinary archaeological discovery in the Inca city discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. This discovery was made possible thanks to the testimony of a French engineer who lives in Barcelona-Spain, David Crespy. In 2010, while he was visiting the lost city, David Crespy noticed the presence of a strange “shelter” located in the heart of the city, at the bottom of one of the main buildings. For him, there was no doubt about it, he was looking at a “door”, an entrance sealed by the Incas. Read more.
Millennia-old burial chamber found in Oman
Muscat: An international team of archaeologists has stumbled upon a cache of relics dating back several millennia in the northern Omani enclave of Musandam.
The discovery, which was made in the Dibba district of Musandam Governorate, is believed to be some 3,500 years old, and has been billed by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture as among the most stunning archaeological finds of recent times.
According to a report in the Arabic newspaper Oman, the site first came to light last year when construction workers building the foundations of a local sports club, chanced upon what appeared to be an ancient tomb strewn with human bones. Read more.
Inside the Burial Chamber.
This was the only decorated room throughout the entire tomb. This was because of his unexpected death, less time was given to prepare the tomb. Tutankhamun’s mummy was protected by 4 wooden shrines, gilded in gold. Found in the room were 8 fans, probably used by him in life. Also, there was a winged ureaus amulet with a human head, a vulture amulet, a double ureaus amulet, a djed pillar amulet, a wadj (papyrus) column amulet, a Horus amulet, and an Anubis amulet. There were also finger and toe protectors, and gold sandals.
