Update: The Daily Glyph posted a video tour of the San Bartolo Mural and additional links to further media coverage.

National Geographic news reports that archeologists in Guatamala have discovered the oldest Mayan mural—and the contents shatter many established preconceptions of the ancient culture. William Saturno, an archaeologist with the University of New Hampshire and the Harvard Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology describes the piece:

The story starts with this deity, who is patron of kings, standing in water. He’s running a large spear through his own penis, letting blood. Blood is squirting all over the place…

Read the details at National Geographic. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology website contains further details.

Photograph by Kenneth Garrett ? 2006 National Geographic

[ via BoingBoing ]