According to Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, during the construction of the Patzcuaro market in August, archaeologists discovered a huge sculpture of a man lying on his back and holding a stone.

Carved from augite andesite—a dark black porous volcanic stone—by the Mayans during the late postclassic period, between 1350 and 1521, the sculpture weighs 440 pounds, is about 3 feet long and 2.5 feet high, the researchers said.

The statue was brought to researchers when it was found in a dismantled state, and through conservation and cleaning, the sculpture was restored to its original shape and color.

The image of a seated person is classic for a chacmool, a ritualistic table that was used in pre-Hispanic times, according to the news release. Archaeologists believe it was used in sacrificial and offering ceremonies.