Two tourists have sparked outrage after they were caught brazenly scaling an ancient pyramid.
The foreign men face a hefty fine after climbing the iconic Kukulkán Pyramid at Mexico’s Chichén Itzá archaeological site.
Following the death of a US tourist in 2006, the authorities banned people from scaling the pyramid two years later.
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As well as safety concerns, the measure is also intended to protect the monument from erosion caused by millions of annual visitors.
Footage showed the suspects clambering up the steep stone steps of the 1,000-year-old Mayan structure before looking around the upper temple.
Security personnel met the tourists at the base where they were then detained by the National Guard.
Climbing the Kukulkán Pyramid has been strictly banned since 2008 by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
On 5 January 2006, American tourist Adeline Black, 80, slipped halfway down the steep steps while descending and failed to grab the guide rope, falling down the remaining steps
She suffered severe head and neck injuries and died hours later in hospital, as reported by Need To Know.
The site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracts huge crowds, particularly during equinox events when the shadow of a serpent appears to descend the staircase.
INAH has warned that climbing the structure can lead to significant fines and sanctions under the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Zones.
Mexican law provides for prison sentences of three to 10 years if damage is caused to archaeological monuments, with additional monetary penalties of between £2,150 and £4,300 (MXN 50,000 and 100,000) possible for lesser breaches.
This latest episode comes as entrance fees to Yucatán archaeological zones, including Chichén Itzá, have recently risen as part of federal efforts to fund better conservation.
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