This week, construction workers discovered an ancient indigenous burial ground while building a school in Laranjal do Jari, in the northeastern state of Amapá. The site contains ceramic artifacts that could be up to 2,000 years old.

After the site was discovered, local archaeologists were called in to assess the findings. They found fifty funeral urns and around one hundred ceramic artifacts completely intact. Some of the pieces have paintings on them, indicating the presence of a large community as well as a tribe known to have lived in French Guyana and Suriname around 1,200 years ago.

Construction of the school has been put on hold until excavation ends, but archaeologists hope to create an educational center where students can learn about archaeology and help explore the site.

Click here to see photos of the excavation.