Archaeologists Find Lid of Ancient Vault With Snake Symbol at Maya Palace

[Judi Lynn]

1. New discovery announced at Ek' Balam site in Yucatn

MND Staff
September 14, 2023



The ancient Maya city of Ek' Balam is one of the Yucatán's hidden gems. (INAH)


The quest to uncover the mysteries of Ek’ Balam — an ancient Maya city that includes one of the largest palaces in Mesoamerica — has been boosted by the discovery of a painted crypt cover.

The finding was announced this week in conjunction with a report on the progress of the Maya Train in Section 4, which spans 239 kilometers (149 miles) from Cancún Airport in Quintana Roo to Izamal, Yucatán.



Ek' Balam crypt
The crypt cover appears to show a snake descending into the underworld. (INAH)


The archaeological zones of Ek’ Balam (about 2 hours from Cancún) and Chichén Itzá (2 hours, 30 minutes) are the two ancient Maya sites that are part of the Section 4 project. Both are in the state of Yucatán.

The less-visited Ek’ Balam includes an awe-inspiring acropolis, or royal palace, in which more than 70 rooms have been found – and that’s just half the building. The site also has a mausoleum facade that is unique in the region.

Now, in yet another major archaeological finding associated with the Maya Train project, a seventh painted crypt cover has been recovered there.

These painted covers and similar artifacts “have provided relevant data about Ek’ Balam, such as names of some of the rulers of the kingdom of Talol (Ek’ Balam), as well as dates on which the rooms of the acropolis were built,” said Diego Prieto Hernández, general director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).



The ancient city is known for its sprawling acropolis, which is still being excavated. (Adam Jones/Wikimedia)


At a press briefing on Monday in Mexico City, Prieto Hernández said that the stone slab cover is painted with a snake figure. Unlike other vault lids found at Ek’ Balam, this one has traces of red paint rather than black, INAH noted.

More:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/culture/new-discovery-announced-at-ek-balam-site-in-yucatan/