Margarita Tomb

[2] Over years of excavation it was discovered that this was a tomb of a woman because of the remains found, which were covered in cinnabar and hematite.

[1] One archaeologist Robert J. Sharer along with his colleagues who were on the dig, believe the remains are of the wife of the founder of Copán, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo'.

[3] Not long after the woman was buried, the temple was partially demolished and a chamber connected to the crypt's access stairway was created.

"This was the scene for rites of remembrance and tomb re-entry that continued even after the building of yet another surmounting platform, Chilan."

[1] A large and multifaceted offering sat in situ (being in the original position; not having been moved) when the funerary slab was removed.

Some of these items were, a painted basket, bone needles, vessels containing the remains of food [4] jade beads, seashells, shell rings, painted gourds filled with cinnabar, two small grinding stones, jade mosaic mother-of-pearl ear flares, two pyrite mirrors and organic wrappings that were most likely textiles.

The archaeologists involved with the project however were able to lift the best preserved part and see a figure in profile wearing a decorated maya headdress.

[3] The basket the lid originally sat on revealed strands of jade beads, needles made of bone, and hand carved shell rings.

One mirror was less eroded and depicted a figure in profile with speech scroll, an object of some sort in his hand and the rim was decorated with a serpent which was important in Maya culture.