The Ministry of Culture of Mexico announced the registration of a new discovery. This is a hitherto unknown mural on a stone block in the city of Ek Balam. It is considered one of the most important archaeological zones in Mesoamerica. What is it? The stone map of the underworld.
According to experts, the meeting will shed new light on the construction of the Acropolis. The Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico communicated it through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). He registered an unpublished mural painting. It appeared in a block of stone used by the ancient Mayans as a vault lid. Where was it? In one of the structures of the Acropolis of Ek Balam.
symbolic reptile
The general director of INAH, Diego Prieto Hernández, spoke about the recent discovery of this vault lid. There are 30 of these architectural elements recorded over the years on the site.
Unlike the known ones, the recently located vault lid does not have traces of black paint. This was painted red. The representation shows a “U”-shaped symbol, which could represent a cave with underground water. It is a possible allusion to the underworld, where a snake seems to enter. You can see the head and part of the body of the reptile, which could be associated with the god K’awiil.
Destroyed city
Researchers say the discovery of the stone map of the underworld will shed new light on the construction of the Acropolis. It is the most opulent building in the city that archaeologists consider a possible royal palace. The story of Ek Balam is tragic. It is located on the territory of the modern Mexican state of Yucatán, about 30 kilometers north of the city of Valladolid. It is believed that this city was founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC. C. It existed until the arrival of the conquerors and was destroyed at the beginning of the 16th century AD. C. by the European invasion.
The city existed for almost 2,000 years. It was one of the largest in Mesoamerica. Its area was about 12 square kilometers. The main square of the city, where the Acropolis was located, was intended to be the residence of the elite.
