While scouring the Sierra de las Minas for additional sources of blue jadeite that the ancient olmecs had mined, Jake Ridinger discovered an untouched Mayan archaeological site.
The find includes nine small ceremonial pyramids and a Maya ball court measuring 30 meters by 20 meters bordered by two lines of rocks. The structures were covered with vegetation and showed no evidence of looting.
“I’ve always thought there are quite a few pristine Mayan sites up in the Sierra de las Minas, but I never thought i’d come across one myself,” Jake said. “What impressed me was how well the site had been protected.”
Jake, the 20 year old son of Jades, S.A. founders Mary Lou and Jay Ridinger, promptly reported the site to Guatemala’s Department of Anthropology, which named the site “Jacobo.” To encourage the preservation of Guatemala’s historic treasures, the department typically credits the individual reporting the find in the site name.
The Ridingers theorize that the heavy vegetation usually covering ancient sites did not take root entirely by chance but rather was planted by departing Mayans as they abandoned sites.
