El Salvador carved rocks are dated to Christ’s time

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, March 14, 2002

Associated Press

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Workers building a wall around a school uncovered four carved rocks that an archaeologist says date from the time of Jesus Christ.

The discovery took place on March 6 in the town of Izalco, 40 miles west of the capital, San Salvador.

The pieces found correspond to the late preclassic period of Meso-American civilization, from 200 years before to 260 years after the birth of Christ, archaeologist Fabricio Valdivieso of the National Museum said Wednesday.

He said researchers still know relatively little about the people living in the area at the time, which corresponded to the late Olmec period in Mexico and was shortly before the flourishing of Mayan culture here.

Valdivieso said the four pieces, measuring about 25 inches long and 15 inches wide each, were found when the workers were digging about 20 inches below ground.

Three of the rocks were carved into jaguar heads, while the fourth resembles a sculpture of a human head, Valdivieso said.

Valdivieso said 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 said the type of sculpture indicates the objects had a ceremonial use, "but investigations will help us confirm that theory."

Valdivieso said a group of Salvadoran archaeologists would conduct more research at the site.

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