Willow class have been learning about The Mayans and found out that in the 1950s a hidden tomb was discovered with the sarcophagus of Lord Pakal inside, an important Mayan leader, complete with the mask and special jewellery he was buried with more than a thousand years ago. Only the most important Mayan people wore funeral masks when they died which were often made from jade, a semi-precious stone.
The masks were intended to help the wearer become one of the Gods in the afterlife and to protect them on their journey. We designed our own replica Mayan mask after observing the shapes, colours and elaborate decorations used by the Mayans. We chose our shape and materials to create a patterned replica Mayan death mask.