The Water tunnel was found under the tomb of the Mayan king

Mexican archaeologists announced at a press conference on July 25: They discovered a tunnel 60 cm wide and 60 cm high of underground water, built under a 1,300 year old stone inscription shrine in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque. Which houses the grave of King Maya Pakal.

Archaeologist Arnoldo Gonzalez said researchers believe the tomb and pyramid were deliberately built over the fountain. Between 683 and 702 AD, tunnels carried water from under the morgue to the front yard of the temple as a way for the spirit of King Pakal to the afterlife.

Attention has focused on the ornate stone coffins used to bury King Pakal, some mistakenly believing the Mayan rulers were sitting at the spaceship stall, but Gonzalez said the statues were in earplugs. A married couple found in the grave said “God will guide the underworld by immersing them in water. Then they will be greeted there."

The Temple of the Inscription was one of the most complex construction projects the Maya had ever undertaken. And for hundreds of years stone pyramids have dominated the ancient city and were hidden deep within.

Until this year. In 1952, Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier discovered a hidden staircase inside the temple. Which leads to a tomb with a jeweled skeleton. Wearing a jade mosaic mask The skeleton belongs to King Pakal, who ruled the Maya Empire in the 7th century and was the creator of the pyramids at the end of his nearly 70 year reign.

Inside the tomb are 640 sculptures written by royal scribes who tell about the reign of King Pakal until his death in 683 AD Towards the afterlife.

In 2012, researchers discovered an anomaly in underground conditions in front of the pyramid from radar observations. They were afraid that there might be holes or faults that could cause the pyramid to collapse or collapse. So they dug in the area. Then a 3-storey stone was found that was neatly closed above the tunnel.

Gonzalez said that the stone used to cover the tunnel was the same as the floor of King Pakal's tomb which was inside the pyramid.

He said there appeared to be no connection between the tomb and the tunnel. But the tunnel was not fully explored because it was too small to pass. Which researchers have sent robots with cameras to explore further.

Francisco Estrada-Belli An assistant professor of archeology at Boston University who was not involved in the discovery said: "I believe that building a grave over a river is in line with the belief that the river is the gateway to the underworld."