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Archaeologists working at the area believed to be Site Q |
A Maya city with unique sculptures, whose location has remained a mystery until now, has been discovered in the dense jungle of northern Guatemala.
The area known as “Site Q” became an archaeological sanctuary after a unique collection of Maya artworks from the period 600-900 AD was showcased in museums across America and Europe in the 1970s.
Recently, researchers found a sculpture at the ruins named La Corona in Guatemala that matches the exhibited artifacts.
International researchers have long speculated that La Corona is indeed Site Q, and recent studies have left no doubt about it.
Salvador Lopez, head of the monuments in Guatemala, stated that many carved stones appeared in the area three decades ago, depicting strange snake-head carvings. These share many similarities with the exhibited artifacts, leading experts to believe they were all stolen from a Maya city.
Lopez explained that a carved stone with hieroglyphics has proven that La Corona was established by the leaders of the Calakmul kingdom of the Maya in Mexico to strengthen their power in the struggle against the Tikal forces in Guatemala—the second-largest empire in the Maya world.
“The ruins narrate the history of the two dynasties, Tikal and Calakmul,” he said.
La Corona is located in the Laguna del Tigre National Park, a dangerous area of Guatemala where scientists work amidst threats from drug traffickers, logging gangs, and illegal hunters.
M.T. (according to Reuters)