Science Illustrated

Secret pyramid discovered... inside famous Mayan pyramid

The well-known Kulkukan step pyramid in Mexico contains at least two other, smaller pyramids.

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One of the most magnificen­t Mayan structures, the 30-m-tall Kukulkan pyramid in Chichén Itzá, Mexico, is hiding a spectacula­r secret: Like a Russian matryoshka doll, it contains several smaller versions of itself. In the 1930s, archaeolog­ists discovered a 20-m-tall pyramid inside the external, about 1,000-year-old step pyramid. And now, scientists have found a second pyramid inside the pyramid by means of 3D scan technology. The newly-discovered pyramid is located above a natural well, known as a cenote, which scientists discovered in 2015 using the same method. According to the scientists, the layers were built, because different Mayan emperors wanted to display their grandeur by building something even bigger.

 ??  ?? Inside the 30-m-high Kukulkan pyramid, there are two smaller pyramids.
Inside the 30-m-high Kukulkan pyramid, there are two smaller pyramids.
 ??  ??

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