The ancient Maya covered their buildings in stucco, which could either be creamy white or - with the addition of local minerals - either red or blue. Unfortunately, stucco does not stand up well to tropical rainfall, so most of the ruins so far discovered have been bare limestone. At Ek Balam, a king was entombed on his balcony - symbolically perched between the ground and heaven. The tomb was richly decorated - and then hidden by limestone walls. It was discovered by accident when the building was under restoration and the extent and detail revealed is amazing. It is now protected from the weather by thatched roofs.