Recent archaeological discoveries in Italy and Guatemala have unveiled significant artifacts from ancient civilizations, shedding light on their cultural practices.
In southern Tuscany, Italy, a team of archaeologists has recovered ancient statues, coins, jewels, and intact eggs from Roman and Etruscan times at the site of San Casciano dei Bagni. Excavations, ongoing since 2019, have revealed a shrine associated with hot springs used for healing as far back as the 3rd century B.C. Among the latest findings, nearly five meters underground, are male and female bronze sculptures, thousands of coins, a gold crown, and a series of snake sculptures, including a nearly one-meter-long representation of Agathos Daimon, a protective deity from Greek mythology.
In Guatemala, an ornate jade mask, dating back to approximately A.D. 350, was discovered in the tomb of a Maya king at Chochkitam. This mask, crafted from interlocking jade pieces with seashells for eyes and teeth, likely represents a Maya storm god. The tomb also contained carvings made with volcanic obsidian glass, a common practice in Maya royal burials.
These findings not only enrich our understanding of ancient cultures but also highlight the ongoing efforts of archaeologists to uncover the past.