Rare Mayan Death Vase Discovered

This beautiful vase was discovered in Honduras in the 1,400-year-old grave of a member of the Maya elite. The vase is carved with sculpted scrolls, overlapping tiles meant to resemble serpent scales, and handles fashioned into the shape of bats' heads.

Studies of the soil in and around the vase contained traces of things like pollen from corn, false ipecac, and cacao. These trace particles have helped the archaeologists to solve some mysteries regarding the use of these vases. For more information, read the rest of the article at National Geographic.