A mysterious palace which was home to a bloodthirsty and wealthy ruler some 2,300 years ago has been discovered in Mexico.
The incredible building was once the home and business center for the ruler of an ancient empire which pre-dates the Aztecs, scientists have claimed.
It would have provided comfortable living quarters for the ruler and his family and boasted all sorts of modern conveniences, including a cistern for collecting rainwater in the living areas and a drain carved into stone to bring in fresh water and remove waste.
But it came with the gruesome addition of a sacrificial space, where humans would have their hearts removed or be decapitated in honor of the gods.
Scientists Elsa Redmond and Charles Spencer, who helped excavate the palace along with the American Museum of Natural History, believe the construction techniques used by the builders suggested the building was designed ahead of time.
Redmond and Spencer have been working at the El Palenque site since 1993.Elsa M. Redmond and Charles Spencer
It was probably built in one bout of construction and it demonstrated how much manpower the ruler had at his disposal, they wrote in a scientific journal.
The Oaxaca Valley near the southern tip of Mexico is a treasure trove for clues about the ancient Mayan civilization that once ruled over central America and has lured in archaeologists for several decades.
Redmond and Spencer’s team has been working at the El Palenque site since 1993, but believe this new find is one of the oldest pieces of architecture.
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This article originally appeared on The Sun.