Guatemala City, Apr 30 (IANS/EFE): A time capsule that will not be opened until 2065 has been created by officials in Guatemala who drew their inspiration from the ancient Mayan civilization.

The green marble time capsule contains letters and messages from leading members of society and is intended to give those living half a century from now an idea of what life was like in 2013.

"We are creating a memory archive that was placed in a time capsule made of green marble so that the leaders 52 years from now will know what the economic, social and political situation in our country was," Deputy Culture Minister Leandro Yax told EFE.

The Mayan civilization flourished in what are now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, with a history spanning some 3,000 years.

The documents, including letters from President Otto Perez Molina and Olympic medalist Erick Barrondo, were placed in a hand-decorated cedar box and wrapped in a güipil, a traditional garment.

The time capsule was sealed April 22 during an Earth Day ceremony because that date marked the convergence of the two Mayan calendars - the Haab and the Tzolkin - with the lunar calendar.

The capsule was placed in a passageway in the north wing of the Palace of Culture so it can be seen by domestic and foreign tourists.