Largest Maya tomb discovered in Belize at Xunantunich

Archaeologists have uncovered one of the largest Maya funerary chambers ever found in Belize at the ancient site of Xunantunich. The tomb, built between 600 and 800 AD, was discovered accidentally while excavating the central staircase of a ceremonial center. It contains the remains of a young man aged 20-30, accompanied by jaguar and deer bones, six jade beads, 13 obsidian blades, and 36 ceramic vessels. The chamber measures 4.5 by 2.4 meters and was found 4 to 8 meters underground. Unlike most Maya tombs, which were added to existing structures, this one was built simultaneously with the surrounding temple, suggesting the temple was constructed specifically to house the tomb. Hieroglyphic panels found inside may link the burial to the Snake Dynasty, a 7th-century ruling dynasty named for its serpent emblem. The discovery was made by a team led by archaeologist Jaime Awe from Northern Arizona University and the Belize Institute of Archaeology.