Reuters: According to the nation’s national antiquities institution INAH, archaeologists in Mexico discovered a highly decorated human body in a burial that may be older than 1,000 years in a location where building was being completed on a significant tourist rail project.
The find was made this month while archeological salvage work was being done concurrently with the construction of a massive tourist train in southern Mexico. The train’s main purpose is to bring tourists to the region’s numerous ancient Maya sites as well as the nearby top beach resorts like Cancun and Tulum.
The Maya Train rail project is one of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s key priorities for economic development. It works with groups of rather well-funded archaeologists who have hurried to finish excavations so that the building project won’t be delayed. Budget cuts have been made to digs in other parts of the country.
The most recent burial site was discovered while building a hotel next to the significant Palenque Maya ruin in the state of Chiapas, which was originally the site of one of the largest and most advanced urban centers in all of ancient civilization.
The skeleton remains were discovered in a stone box about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the city’s center, which was home to imposing temples and a sizable palace complex. They probably concern a wealthy citizen of the city called Lakamha’ by the pre-Columbian Maya.
Three ceramic cups, ear flares, and two greenstone beads were also contained in the box.
The person was buried face up with his head facing north, as reported by INAH, who also stated that more tests are required to establish the person’s exact age and other details.