TEGUCIGALPA - HONDURAN researchers believe they have uncovered the remains of one of the first kings of Central America's Mayan civilisation.

Archaeologists working at Copan - a major site for Mayan civilization culture - believe they have found bones belonging to one of 16 Mayan kings.

'We have found skeleton in a grave in the temple of Oropendola, which research suggests could be important because it may have belonged to one of the first rulers from the Mayan dynasty,' said the director the Honduran Anthropology and History Institute, Dario Euraque.

The Maya dynasties flourished better 426 and 820 AD throughout much of Central America and south eastern Mexico.

Euraque said the bones were in poor condition because 'a roof covering had collapsed on top of the remains of a 30-year-old man, but the teeth have been pretty well preserved.' -- AFP