Mexico finds water tunnels under Mayan tomb in Palenque

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mexico finds water tunnels under Mayan tomb in Palenque

Mark Stevenson, The Associated Press
Published Monday, July 25, 2016 5:09PM EDT

MEXICO CITY -- Archaeologists at the Mayan ruin site of Palenque said Monday they have discovered an underground water tunnel built under the Temple of Inscriptions, which houses the tomb of an ancient ruler named Pakal.

Archaeologist Arnoldo Gonzalez says researchers believe the tomb and pyramid were purposely built atop a spring between 683 and 702 AD. The tunnels led water from under the funeral chamber out into the broad esplanade in front of the temple, thus giving Pakal's spirit a path to the underworld.

Attention has focused on the heavily carved stone sarcophagus in which Pakal was buried, and which some erroneously believe depict the Maya ruler seated at the controls of a spaceship.

But Gonzalez said Monday that carvings on a pair of stone ear plugs found in the grave say a god "will guide the dead toward the underworld, by submerging (them) into the water so they will be received there."

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/mexico-finds-water-tunnels-under-mayan-tomb-in-palenque-1.3001693

[7962]

1. Now thats a cool story nt

[hibbing]

2. Thanks for posting

I always like to hear about new discoveries when you think every inch of the world has been explored and exploited.

Peace!

[packman]

3. Either Pakal is flying a spaceship or firing a megaweapon

It's alien technology

[okasha]

5. The "megaweapon" is the Tree of Life,

which the Maya portrayed as a corn stalk. Turn the photo to vertical, and this will be clearer.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. American (Centr & South) civs had great hydraulic engineering. See also Inca & Tiwanaku. . . nt

[Midnight Writer]

6. Fascinating stuff. Too bad we have destroyed so much of our ancient heritage around the world

The more we find, the more we learn. About ourselves and our ancestors. And our story keeps getting richer with every new find.

A very frustrating puzzle, with so many missing pieces.

[ansible]

7. I'm more amazed the spaniards didn't destroy it

There were mayan cities that fought the spaniards up to the 1600s. I'll never forgive Spain for utterly wiping out entire civilizations.

[uhnope]

8. I knew a guy who thought English teaching was a sign of imperialism

and he was a Spanish teacher

[Judi Lynn]

9. Ancient canal system found under Mayan pyramid could be symbolic gateway to afterlife

Ancient canal system found under Mayan pyramid could be symbolic gateway to afterlife

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 26 July, 2016, 10:32am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 26 July, 2016, 10:32am

Mexican archaeologists have discovered a canal system under the pyramid containing the tomb of a Mayan ruler, suggesting the water tunnel could represent a symbolic path to the underworld.

The hydraulic system was found under the Temple of the Inscriptions, which houses the seventh-century tomb of Pakal “The Great” in Palenque, the ancient Maya city in southern Chiapas state, the National Anthropology and History Institute announced Monday.

“The presence of these canals is very important and very significant,” said Arnoldo Gonzalez, the directory of archaeology in Palenque.

An inscription in the tomb says that to be accepted in the underworld, the dead must be submerged in the water of a god called Chaac. The underground network of canals has different levels and goes in different directions, and it was built “well before” the pyramid, according to the national anthropology institute.

More:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/1994845/ancient-canal-system-found-under-mayan-pyramid-could-be-symbolic

[dembotoz]

10. but wouldn't the water make ben carsons grain storage spoil?

unless perhaps it was a massive still