Deep in the Mexican jungle, archaeologists have discovered a real gem. Well, a gem made of stucco.
While uncovering an ancient Mayan drainage system, a team from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History unexpectedly found a mask depicting ancient ruler Pacal the Great, The Daily Express reports. The 8-inch-long mask was found alongside some ceramic sculptures and small animal remains, which were probably offered up as sacrifice after builders completed a reconstruction project.
Pacal the Great ruled the Mayan state of Palenque from age 12 to when he died at 80. Unlike the jade mask discovered in 1952 with Pacal's body, this one unusually captures Pacal near the end of his life, researchers tell The Daily Express. Even 1,335 years after the end of Pacal's rule, you can still spot deep wrinkles around the mask's mouth:
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More than a million tourists visit Palenque every year, but they only get to see a bit of Pacal's expansive former city. Most of the ancient territory has been consumed by the jungle — where archaeologists found this detailed mask. Read more about the find at The Daily Express.
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