A deep-jungle expedition in the Lacandon region of Chiapas has located a previously unknown Pre-Classic Maya temple dedicated to the Maize-Lord. The structure, which dates back to roughly 300 BCE, features massive jade-inlaid stucco masks on its primary facade, representing the cycle of life and agricultural rebirth.
Archaeologists utilized ground-penetrating radar to identify a solar-aligned staircase that casts a unique 'serpent of light' during the spring equinox. The discovery challenges existing timelines for urban development in the western Maya lowlands and reveals a sophisticated understanding of celestial mechanics among early agrarian societies in Mesoamerica.