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Time - Man of the Year
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1992-09-22
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THE WEEK, Page 26SOCIETYFit for a King
Archaeologists uncover a treasure trove of Mayan history
To an archaeologist, unearthing relics is as incidental as
filing tax returns. But last week an excavation among the
ancient ruins of Copan, in western Honduras, turned up a find
so extraordinary that archaeologists are digging for the proper
superlatives to describe it. The discoverers believe that they
have uncovered the tomb of a 6th century Mayan king who died
before he was 30 years old. Archaeologists stumbled across the
temple during a routine dig, and are now calling it the find of
their careers. Five hundred tombs have been excavated at Copan
during the past 18 years, but only two others have been
considered undisturbed royal resting places.
Perhaps the most dramatic aspect of the discovery is the
remarkable state in which the ceramic vases inside have been
preserved. The colors are vibrant and the decorative motifs
almost perfectly preserved. The vases are unique because they
were stuccoed and then coated with paint, but not fired. One
archaeologist called the condition of the pottery absolutely
"shocking."
Examinations of bones and teeth may offer some valuable
information about the inhabitant of the tomb. But the key to
figuring out exactly who is buried there lies in the
hieroglyphics emblazoned on the pots. Expert readers are
currently baffled by the mysterious writings.