Officials have announced the discovery of an ancient idol representing a deity associated with death in a remote region of Mexico.

According to a government news release on June 19, the 10-inch limestone statuette was found near the archaeological site of Balamku in the southeastern state of Campeche.

Dating back approximately 1,400 to 1,800 years, the idol was crafted by the Mayans, a pre-Columbian civilization in Central America, Miami Herald reported.

The sculpture depicts a seated figure adorned with a nose ring and adorned with patches of red pigment, providing strong connections to the deity of death and funerary practices.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Cizin, known as the “stinking one,” was the Mayan god of death.

This deity was closely linked to various aspects including earthquakes, warfare, and human sacrifices.

The recently discovered idol also exhibits an elongated skull, indicating the practice of cranial modification commonly associated with the Mayan culture.

Written by staff