In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, archaeologists from the INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia) conduct their ongoing excavations and research at the ancient city of Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A new find was a scoreboard for the game in the form of a stone.
“The ancient city of Chichen Itza is perhaps the most important archaeological site of the Mayan Peninsula civilization”
A round stone with a diameter of about 32 cm. Weight 40 kg. Previously, experts date the find to 894 AD. That this is a scoreboard is evidenced by carved hieroglyphic inscriptions and images of two figures, apparently near the ball.
Francisco Perez, one of the project's coordinating experts, says: "It is rare to find hieroglyphic writing at this Mayan site, let alone a complete text".
Photo: National Institute of Anthropology and History.
Another figure wears the "snake turban" headdress that is often seen in other paintings.
Pelota, literally translated as "ball", was a Mayan ritual game using a heavy rubber ball and appeared more than 3,000 years ago. It was important because the ancient game had a certain symbolism... the struggle of good and evil, the clash of light and darkness, revival, as the main motive of the religious principles of the tribes. The Maya worshiped their gods, so by playing and making sacrifices, they honored these gods.
Photo: Instituto Nacional de Antropología e History.
