That it was common in Mayan funerary practices to place a piece of maize in the deceased's mouth. Researchers speculate that this ritual was carried out for two reasons. Firstly, the maize was considered nourishment for the dead during their passage to the afterlife. Secondly, maize was a highly important crop to the mayans - a lot of meanings were attributed to it, including rebirth.
Of course, this particular burial behaviour cannot be attributed to all Mayans - at their peak, they represented a huge population!
Mayan Maize God
Image via the British Museum
Of course, this particular burial behaviour cannot be attributed to all Mayans - at their peak, they represented a huge population!
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