A pyramid Mesoamerican Zocque preserves an ancient tomb

At the site of Chiapa de Corzo (Chiapas state, Mexico), was discovered a tomb inside a pyramid Zocque . It is dated from 500 to 700 BC by the archaeologist Emiliano Gallaga and may be the oldest of its kind in Mesoamerica.

Based on the layers in which it was found and unusual wooden construction, "we think it's one of the first discoveries of the use of a pyramid as a tomb, [that] not only as a religious site or temple," says Gallaga.

(Bruce R. Bachand)

The stone chamber in which the burial was found measuring 3 x 4 meters, 6-7 meters below what was the top of the pyramid.

(Bruce R. Bachand)

Inside was the body of a man of about fifty, bracelets and collars buried with jade and amber, pearl ornaments, pyrite and obsidian artifacts and ceramic vessels. His face was covered with what could have been a death mask of obsidian eyes, while the body was painted with red pigment.

It was probably a high priest or ruler of Chiapa de Corzo, a settlement at the time outstanding.

(Bruce R. Bachand)

Were found in the mouth jade jewelry (Bruce R. Bachand)

Above the man's body had been carefully placed to a child than a year, while that of a male of twenty years was thrown into a room with less care, perhaps sacrificed at the time of burial.

Beside it was the tomb of a woman, also in her fifties, which contained ornaments of jade, amber, pearl and pyrite.

The woman's skeleton. Behind the right knee you see a mirror of iron pyrite (Bruce R. Bachand)

The signs on the walls of the stone chamber indicate that the tomb was used to create wooden supports and that over time they collapsed under the weight of the pyramid built above.

The pre-Hispanic cultures built pyramids mainly as representations of levels ranging from hell to heaven, the highest point usually contained a temple.

(Bruce R. Bachand)

The ornaments - some imported from Guatemala and Central Mexico - some of the 15 ceramic vessels, and jade ceremonial ax found at the base of the pyramid shows influences of culture Olmec , long considered the "mother culture" of the region.

We are uncertain as to whether the Olmec pyramids do not contain the tombs of dignitaries, too: because they, although well known, have not yet been dug out - in part because the atmospheric conditions which are not suitable for the preservation of human bodies.

On the other hand, in Chiapa de Corzo did not find the typical ornaments inserted in the ear lobe and chest Olmec. In addition, the walls of stone and clay and wooden roof represent something new: "There are elements who remained and were incorporated Olmec culture [zocque], but at the same time [that] began to separate and turn the page," says Bruce Bachand, archaeologist in charge of the excavations.

(Wiki)

Despite the position of Chiapa de Corzo, is not yet clear whether the later Maya culture learned or inherited the practice of burial in the pyramids or the Zocque the Olmecs.

The Olmecs began to expand from the Gulf of Mexico around 1200 BC and influenced many subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations. But what was the extent of this influence is still being debated.

The pyramid of Chiapa de Corzo, with its long terraced platform, is a prelude to the plant of the Maya "Group E" (the name is taken from the site Uaxactún Maya, Guatemala). "So it is not only an ancient pyramid," says Bachand. "It seems to be one of the first group and throughout Mesoamerica. Here's what we are looking at. "

The new findings, continues Bachand, suggest that the group E - so strongly associated with some Mesoamerican cultures including the Maya - may actually be Zocque invention.

Source: ilfattostorico.com

Sources: AP , National Geographic , INAH .

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