Mexico finds water tunnels under Mayan tomb in Palenque

[Judi Lynn]

Mexico finds water tunnels under Mayan tomb in Palenque

Mark Stevenson, The Associated Press
Published Monday, July 25, 2016 5:09PM EDT

MEXICO CITY -- Archaeologists at the Mayan ruin site of Palenque said Monday they have discovered an underground water tunnel built under the Temple of Inscriptions, which houses the tomb of an ancient ruler named Pakal.

Archaeologist Arnoldo Gonzalez says researchers believe the tomb and pyramid were purposely built atop a spring between 683 and 702 AD. The tunnels led water from under the funeral chamber out into the broad esplanade in front of the temple, thus giving Pakal's spirit a path to the underworld.

Attention has focused on the heavily carved stone sarcophagus in which Pakal was buried, and which some erroneously believe depict the Maya ruler seated at the controls of a spaceship.

But Gonzalez said Monday that carvings on a pair of stone ear plugs found in the grave say a god "will guide the dead toward the underworld, by submerging (them) into the water so they will be received there."

More:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/mexico-finds-water-tunnels-under-mayan-tomb-in-palenque-1.3001693

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ancient canal system found under Mayan pyramid could be symbolic gateway to afterlife

Ancient canal system found under Mayan pyramid could be symbolic gateway to afterlife

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 26 July, 2016, 10:32am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 26 July, 2016, 10:32am

Mexican archaeologists have discovered a canal system under the pyramid containing the tomb of a Mayan ruler, suggesting the water tunnel could represent a symbolic path to the underworld.

The hydraulic system was found under the Temple of the Inscriptions, which houses the seventh-century tomb of Pakal “The Great” in Palenque, the ancient Maya city in southern Chiapas state, the National Anthropology and History Institute announced Monday.

“The presence of these canals is very important and very significant,” said Arnoldo Gonzalez, the directory of archaeology in Palenque.

An inscription in the tomb says that to be accepted in the underworld, the dead must be submerged in the water of a god called Chaac. The underground network of canals has different levels and goes in different directions, and it was built “well before” the pyramid, according to the national anthropology institute.

More:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/1994845/ancient-canal-system-found-under-mayan-pyramid-could-be-symbolic