Discover the oldest tomb of the Maya period

Located at the temple site in the province of Retalhuleu (Guatemala), this grave is said to belong to a ruler of that time, or religious leader about 2,000 years ago.

The carbon isotope test results show that the tomb was built between 700 and 400 BC, according to BBC archaeologist Miguel Orrego.

The tomb of the Vulture Old Father in western Guatemala

Experts have found many jade jewelry, including a necklace engraved with a vulture-like character on the body.

Although not finding any remains, the vulture's head on the human body shows that the character in the grave must be an elderly leader, as this symbolizes power and economic status at that time.

Scientists have named the man who was once in the tomb, K'utz Chman, which means the Old Vulture Father. He is considered a bridge in the transition from Olmec to Maya civilization in Central America.

The old Vulture father may be the first to introduce features that later became the foundation of Maya civilization, such as the construction of pyramids and the inscriptions of royal figures, according to Reuters.

Olmec Empire began to decline around 400 BC, while Mayan civilization began to flourish, according to archaeologist Christa Schieber.

The Maya captured throughout Central America from 250 to 800 AD, and their empire stretched from Honduras to central Mexico.