スプートニク日本
5世紀半ばからチチェン・イッツァ遺跡はマヤ文明の政治的、文化的中心地だった。昨年、考古学者たちがチチェン・イッツァの地下水レベルを調査していた際、長くて非常に狭い地下道の体系が発見された。この地下道をたどると、その奥に広がる大きな洞窟が現れた。
洞窟には古代の神々の顔で飾られた花瓶やプレート、香炉が残されていたことから、学者らはこれがマヤ文明の最古の儀式の場だと確信に至った。
© REUTERS / INAH - National Institute of Anthropology and History/Karla OrtegaIncendiaries, that indicate a ritual use in pre-Hispanic times, are seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
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Incendiaries, that indicate a ritual use in pre-Hispanic times, are seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
© REUTERS / INAH - National Institute of Anthropology and History/Karla OrtegaA pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.

A pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
© REUTERS / INAH - National Institute of Anthropology and History/Karla OrtegaA pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.

A pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
Incendiaries, that indicate a ritual use in pre-Hispanic times, are seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
A pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
A pre-Hispanic artifact is seen at Balamku cave, located in the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico March 4, 2019.
考古学者たちは今回の発見について、洞窟を地質学と微生物学の両面から調査することで気候サイクルと都市の全盛期や衰退との関係が明らかになり、洞窟の遺跡物の研究でマヤの儀式文化の理解がさらに進むと期待を寄せている。