GUATEMALA-DISCOVERY Archaeologists uncover intact Mayan hieroglyphic panels in Guatemala

Record ID: 149244

  • Title: GUATEMALA-DISCOVERY Archaeologists uncover intact Mayan hieroglyphic panels in Guatemala
  • Date: 23rd July 2015
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JULY 22, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXPERTS LOOKING AT MAYAN HIEROGLYPHIC PANELS VARIOUS OF PANELS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CO-DIRECTOR OF LA CORONA ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT, MARCELO CANUTO, SAYING: "Excavations have discovered two hieroglyphic panels, two stone panels about 40 cm (16 inches) in length and about 30 cm (12 inches) in height that are ca
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAYHGZFWNY4VNMWJSJIPBI6VD0
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ancient Mayan panels dating as far back as the seventh century C.E. have been discovered in northern Guatemala, shedding new light on the mysterious civilisation.
    In total three ancient Mayan pieces were excavated at the La Corona and El Achiotal archaeological sites in May. The largest of the pieces measures a metre (3.3 feet) high and features well-preserved ancient Mayan script and stone carvings.
    An expert on the excavation spoke to Reuters about the other two panels.
    "Excavations have discovered two hieroglyphic panels, two stone panels about 40 cm (16 inches) in length and about 30 cm (12 inches) in height that are carved with hieroglyphs, and on one of them there's the image of a king dancing. These panels are incredibly well preserved and for being about 1,300 to 1,400 years old, we are extremely surprised and excited about the fact that they preserve such wonderful amount of detail." said co-director of the La Corona Archaeological Project, Marcelo Canuto.
    The priceless artefacts have been moved to Guatemala City for further research.
    Among the crucial information reportedly carried on the panels are revelations about Mayan transfers of power.
    "They're extremely important for us because they give us very detailed information about how a Maya ruler becomes king. It gives us a step-by-step process by which a king over a period of two years is not a royal member of a dynasty and then becomes king of the site. This is fascinating kind of information that is extremely detailed and often not explicated with as much detail in other texts. So, at La Corona we're getting some great, very fine grain information that we don't normally see in text," said Canuto.
    The powerful Mayan empire reached its height, known as its classic period, between approximately 250 and 950 CE. It extended its reach into what is now Guatemala, Honduras and western El Salvador.
    Peaking in the eighth century with a population of some 15 million people, the advanced ancient empire mapped out a precise calendar and astronomical movements, among other advances.
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