Last spring in Mexico, scientists made an exciting discovery. They found a round stone with carved drawings. They dug it up in an ancient city called Chichén Itzá (chee-CHEN eet-SAH).
Experts think the stone was carved about 1,200 years ago. It might have been used in a team sport created by the ancient Maya civilization.
This civilization began around 4,000 years ago. It lasted for thousands of years. The Maya built cities, roads, and farms that were ahead of their time. They were skilled in science, math, and writing.
The Maya also enjoyed sports. They played a ball game called pok-ta-pok. It’s been described as a mix of modern soccer and basketball. Experts say the stone might have been used in that game. It may have been a marker on a pok-ta-pok court.