Salvadoran workers uncover '2,000-year-old stone shards'
Workers building a wall around a school have uncovered four carved rocks that an archaeologist says date from the time of Christ's birth.
The pieces found correspond to the late pre-classic period of Meso-American civilization, from 200 years before to 260 years after the birth of Christ, archaeologist Fabricio Valdivieso, of the National Museum, says.
He says researchers still know relatively little about the people living in the area at the time.
Mr Valdivieso says the four pieces, measuring about 25 inches long and 15 inches wide each, were discovered when the workers were digging about 20 inches below ground in Izalco.
Three of the rocks were carved into jaguar heads, while the fourth resembles a sculpture of a human head, he says.
Mr Valdivieso says the four pieces represent "one of the most important archaeological findings" of the past 10 years in El Salvador.
"This finding could help to reconstruct patterns of religious conduct for our ancestors," he said.
He says the type of sculpture indicates the objects had a ceremonial use, "but investigations will help us confirm that theory."
Mr Valdivieso says a group of Salvadoran archaeologists will conduct more research at the site.
Story filed: 00:34 Friday 15th March 2002