Stolen Mayan altar

An elaborately-carved Maya altar more than 1,200 years old has been recovered from looters in Guatemala after a joint investigation by archaeologists, police and village elders.





It was erected in the year 796 in the city of Cancuen, at the site of one of the Mayans' largest royal palaces.

But after the demise of the Mayan civilisation, it lay unknown and undisturbed until 2001, when a rainstorm washed away layers of dirt that had been covering it.

A local gang of looters spotted it and hauled it away on a boat.

Credit:
Davix


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[Edited on 4-11-2003 by quaneeri]

Just in time for Halloween.

Worship the lizards and maybe they will spare you when the population reduction programs kick in.

It's always good to see cultural treasures recovered. The sad thing is that you know there were probably dozens of less than honorable, and less than cultured, millionares who would have been happy to have purchased it from the looters.

Woot thats good news Imagine the money people could have made off that on the black market

it makes you wonder about all the other cool stuff that does not get recovered from looters...its a shame

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