Just when we think we’ve found all there is to discover from ancient worlds, a group of archaeologists have uncovered another exciting and peculiar find.
A previous breakthrough in DNA analysis revealed some pretty gruesome details of Mayan sacrifice victims.
But there is so little known about the mysterious civilization that seemed to vanish after thousands of years, that they are often the fascination of researchers hunting for clues.
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Now, a group has unlocked more answers on the Mayans after an underground structure with painted walls was unearthed in Mexico.
It’s believed that the structure is over 1,500 years old, dating back to the early classic period of the Mayan civilization between 200 and 600 AD.
Using advanced aerial laser scanning, a team of archaeologists were able to detect something underneath an ancient ball court in Campeche, Mexico.
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The incredible discovery means that researchers will have new insight into what life was like on the continent before the Spanish conquest.
Speaking to Live Science, Ivan Šprajc - who is an archaeologist from the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies - said: “We located parts of an earlier building that had painted walls. But only further excavations may reveal the shape of that underlying building and what its function was.
“The inevitable impression is that the Mayan culture of this region that we have just explored, was noticeably less elaborate than in the Petén, to the south, and the regions of the Chenes and Chactún, to the north and east.”
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It’s believed that the ancient structure was important during its heyday as the ball courts are usually located at significant Mayan sites which were the centers for their political practices.
Researchers have revealed that the site is likely to have experienced its highest occupation during the late classic and terminal periods - which were around 600 to 1000 AD.
This is probably due to late migrations and population growth in neighboring and more popular regions.
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Another exciting find at a nearby site was a 49 ft pyramid and water reservoir.
On top of the ancient pyramid, archaeologists uncovered new artefacts, which include a ceramic animal leg (likely to be an armadillo), other ceramic vessels, and a flint blade.
Researchers reckon these objects could have been left there as offerings to the gods and are estimated to date back to around 1250 and 1524 AD.