10. 137 Mayan Handprints
Year Found: 1981 (Unveiled In 2021)
Est. Value: N/A
After keeping them secret for twenty years to avoid damage, archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Yucatan opened a cave containing Maya relics, bones, and pottery. Under a revered Ceiba tree, the cave has 137 handprints on its walls, three of them red and one black.
137 Handprints from Mayans @GrungeHQ/Pinterest
The crimson handprints signify life or war, while the black handprints suggest a ritualistic death perspective. These handprints are thought to have been an essential part of the coming-of-age rites of young Maya some 1,200 years ago. This remarkable discovery offers a moving window into the ceremonial and cultural activities of a community coping with dramatic changes and environmental difficulties.
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