Although the vast majority of deceased commoners were buried in the ground without special preparation, some were placed in lists. The simplest had a series of rough stone slabs lining the space occupied by the body of the deceased to protect it. More elaborate examples resemble a box with lid composed of well-cut pieces of stone joined with mortar and covered with stucco. These items were recovered from Dzibilchaltun, circa 600-900 d.C. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya (Mayan World Museum of Mérida) opened in 2021. The contemporary building, designed by by Grupo 4A Arquitectos, is in the form a ceiba, a sacred tree believed by the Maya to connect the living with the underworld and heavens above. The museum's permanent galleries house a collection of more than 1100 remarkably well-preserved ancient Mayan artifacts.
