A team of Spanish researchers from the University of Valencia and Polytechnic University of Valencia have discovered a huge mask in the forest Maya Guatemalan whose age is estimated between 300 and 600 years AD. It was apparently kept in the lush vegetation that now covers the archaeological ruins of Chalice north of Guatemala. The project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Science and Innovation may have led to a great discovery, since it would mask a chronologically earlier age than that represented by the architecture that reflects the establishment of the Maya civilization. According to the researchers in charge of the work of documentation and observation, this discovery could provide very important scientific data to better understand the Maya architecture and its people. This is a very large stucco mask that measures 1.50 meters in height, discovered by researchers at Valencia when they were examining constructions of ancient Maya archaeological site of Chalice; a place where underground cavities are numerous. It is within one of the tunnels built by thieves who hid the antiques for resale on the black market, the scientists found themselves nose to nose with the mask that had even preserved some few of its original colors. Researchers are still surprised at the good state of preservation of this architectural Sculpture carved on the limestone. In the Mayan culture, these ornamental elements that represent the forces of nature and supernatural beings bearing the features of deities, are traditional and are part of the decoration of ancient Mayan buildings. Remained hidden under large mounds of earth and vegetation, are now the archeologists who are the first to discover them. This team of professors and researchers from universities and UV UPV specialized in archeology, restoration and conservation have also expressed their readiness to officials HERITAGE Culture of Guatemala to collaborate in their efforts to backup and restore. The researchers are confident they will soon find a second mask since the construction of such ornaments was symmetrical. This important discovery was made in the project “La Blanca” , 6 years is the collaboration of two universities with the Valencian University San Carlos de Guatemala. The objective is to protect the cultural heritage of the archaeological site La Blanca, but also highlight the ruins so that they are a socio-economic engine that can benefit local populations. These Mayan ruins are isolated in the department of El Paten, the northernmost of Guatemala, considered by experts as the heart of the Mayan culture disappeared where the towns of Naranjo, Nakum or, best known thanks to tourism, Tikal .
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