Stolen Mayan altar, page 1

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


Full Story:

news.bbc.co.uk...






[Edited on 4-11-2003 by quaneeri]

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