A stone scoreboard, which is believed to be 1,000 years old and was used to play an ancient ritual ball game, was discovered at the famous Mayan Chichen Itza archaeological site which is located Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

The circular object, which measures around 12.6in (32cm) in diameter and weighs 88lbs (40kg), has hieroglyphic writing inscribed around two players who can be seen standing next to a ball, as per the statement issued by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

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“In this Mayan site, it is rare to find hieroglyphic writing, let alone a complete text,” said archaeologist Francisco Perez, who has been co-ordinating the investigations taking place in the Chichanchob complex, which is also called Casa Colorada.

Describing the image engraved on the stone, archaeologist Santiago Alberto Sobrino Fernandez said “The character on the left is wearing a feathered headdress and a sash that features a flower-shaped element, probably a water lily. In line with the face is a scroll, which may be interpreted as breath or voice.”

“The opposing player wears a headdress known as a ‘snake turban’, which has been seen represented numerous times at Chichen Itza. The individual wears protective clothing for playing pelota,” he added.

The players, who have been carved on the stone, have not been identified as the match's outcome also remains unknown, the inscription's future interpretation may reveal the game's nature as well as the final score.

The discovered stone, which looks like a scoreboard, dates between AD800 and AD900.

The ancient game, which was played using a heavy rubber ball, was a part of the Mesoamerican peoples' traditional practices and it is believed that the game had ritual undertones.

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The researchers working with INAH are now making preparations to capture high-resolution images of the iconography and text for the stone' detailed study, while simultaneously making preparations to conserve the scoreboard.

The Chichen Itza complex, which has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site, is among the Maya civilisation's main archaeological centres present on the Yucatan peninsula. As per the official data, the site is visited every year by around two million people from across the world.

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A stone scoreboard, which is believed to be 1,000 years old and was used to play an ancient ritual ball game, was discovered at the famous Mayan Chichen Itza archaeological site which is located Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

A stone scoreboard, which is believed to be 1,000 years old and was used to play an ancient ritual ball game, was discovered at the famous Mayan Chichen Itza archaeological site which is located Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. The circular object, which measures around 12.6in (32cm) in diameter and weighs 88lbs (40kg), has hieroglyphic writing inscribed around two players who can be seen standing next to a ball, as per the statement issued by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). ALSO READ | Researchers discover ruins of 2,000-year-old Mayan town buried in Guatemala's rainforest “In this Mayan site, it is rare to find hieroglyphic writing, let alone a complete text,” said archaeologist Francisco Perez, who has been co-ordinating the investigations taking place in the Chichanchob complex, which is also called Casa Colorada. Describing the image engraved on the stone, archaeologist Santiago Alberto Sobrino Fernandez said “The character on the left is wearing a feathered headdress and a sash that features a flower-shaped element, probably a water lily. In line with the face is a scroll, which may be interpreted as breath or voice.” “The opposing player wears a headdress known as a ‘snake turban’, which has been seen represented numerous times at Chichen Itza. The individual wears protective clothing for playing pelota,” he added. The players, who have been carved on the stone, have not been identified as the match's outcome also remains unknown, the inscription's future interpretation may reveal the game's nature as well as the final score. The discovered stone, which looks like a scoreboard, dates between AD800 and AD900. The ancient game, which was played using a heavy rubber ball, was a part of the Mesoamerican peoples' traditional practices and it is believed that the game had ritual undertones. WATCH | An ancient restaurant unearthed by archaeologists in Iraq The researchers working with INAH are now making preparations to capture high-resolution images of the iconography and text for the stone' detailed study, while simultaneously making preparations to conserve the scoreboard. The Chichen Itza complex, which has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site, is among the Maya civilisation's main archaeological centres present on the Yucatan peninsula. As per the official data, the site is visited every year by around two million people from across the world. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

1,000-year-old Mayan ball game scoreboard discovered in Mexico

The centuries-old ruins of an ancient Mayan city have been uncovered by archaeologists, who were working in the Yucatan region of Mexico, news agency Reuters reported on Friday (May 27). The city is filled with palaces, pyramids and plazas. The site where the ancient city has been uncovered is a construction site of what will become an industrial park near Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula. For the unversed, the Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya people. They are noted for their sophisticated and highly developed writing system - logosyllabic script and also hailed for art, architecture, calendar, mathematics and astronomical system.&nbsp;

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As per the report, the site is called Xiol, which means "the spirit of man". The archaeologists said that it has features of the Mayan Puuc style of architecture, which is common in the southern Yucatan Peninsula but rare near Merida.&nbsp;

Carlos Peraza, who is one of the archaeologists who led the excavation of the city, said, "We think more than 4,000 people lived around here." He noted that the people were estimated to have been occupied from 600-900 A.D.

Peraza added, "There were people from different social classes... priests, scribes, who lived in these great palaces, and there were also the common people who lived in small buildings."&nbsp;

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<img alt="Mayan city" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fec7a90-1702-4ab7-a162-1d6ca1044aea" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mayan%20city%20%282%29.jpg" />

<img alt="Mayan city" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="251ddcab-2f42-4312-b19e-998f91aafb29" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Mayan%20city%20%283%29.jpg" />

Pictures were taken May 26, 2022. (All image credit: Reuters)

As per the report, burial grounds of adults and children have been located nearby. Reuters mentioned that remains of marine life were also discovered in the area. It suggests that the inhabitants of the city complemented their agricultural-based diets by fishing.&nbsp;

According to the owners of the land, Xiol was discovered after construction began on an industrial park. It has been understood that they will still be built, although the archaeological remains will be preserved. &nbsp;

"With time, urban sprawl (in the area) has grown and many of the archaeological remains have been destroyed... but even we as archaeologists are surprised, because we did not expect to find a site so well preserved," Peraza said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The centuries-old ruins of an ancient Mayan city have been uncovered by archaeologists, who were working in the Yucatan region of Mexico, news agency Reuters reported on Friday (May 27).

The centuries-old ruins of an ancient Mayan city have been uncovered by archaeologists, who were working in the Yucatan region of Mexico, news agency Reuters reported on Friday (May 27). The city is filled with palaces, pyramids and plazas. The site where the ancient city has been uncovered is a construction site of what will become an industrial park near Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula. For the unversed, the Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya people. They are noted for their sophisticated and highly developed writing system - logosyllabic script and also hailed for art, architecture, calendar, mathematics and astronomical system. ALSO READ | 'Strongly bonded' male baboons hold each other back when it comes to finding a mate, study tells As per the report, the site is called Xiol, which means "the spirit of man". The archaeologists said that it has features of the Mayan Puuc style of architecture, which is common in the southern Yucatan Peninsula but rare near Merida. Carlos Peraza, who is one of the archaeologists who led the excavation of the city, said, "We think more than 4,000 people lived around here." He noted that the people were estimated to have been occupied from 600-900 A.D. Peraza added, "There were people from different social classes... priests, scribes, who lived in these great palaces, and there were also the common people who lived in small buildings." ALSO READ | This adorable robotic crab is the 'smallest-ever' remote-controlled walking robot Pictures were taken May 26, 2022. (All image credit: Reuters) As per the report, burial grounds of adults and children have been located nearby. Reuters mentioned that remains of marine life were also discovered in the area. It suggests that the inhabitants of the city complemented their agricultural-based diets by fishing. According to the owners of the land, Xiol was discovered after construction began on an industrial park. It has been understood that they will still be built, although the archaeological remains will be preserved. "With time, urban sprawl (in the area) has grown and many of the archaeological remains have been destroyed... but even we as archaeologists are surprised, because we did not expect to find a site so well preserved," Peraza said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. >

Archaeologists discover ancient Mayan city at construction site in Mexico - see pics

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1,000-year-old Mayan ball game scoreboard discovered in Mexico

Archaeologists discover ancient Mayan city at construction site in Mexico - see pics