Maya stelae (plural stela) are monuments built by the Maya civilisation of ancient Mesoamerica. They are made up of towering, carved stone shafts and are sometimes connected with low circular stones known as altars, though their exact purpose is unknown. Stelae were often placed at important sites to mark the transition between one realm of the dead and another. The word "stela" comes from the Mayan language and means "raised platform". Stelae are found in almost every part of Mesoamerica where the Maya lived, but they are most common in the southern part of the region near present-day Mexico. There are more than 7,000 recorded stelae in Mexico alone! Maya stelae usually measure about 1.5 meters (5 feet) high and have a flat surface about 0.5 meter (1.5 feet) wide. The longest stela ever discovered was cut from a single block of rock and measured 28 meters (92 feet)! It was found near Tikal, Guatemala. Stelae are divided into three main categories based on style and function: altar stelae, rulers' stelae, and mythological stelae. Altar stelae are those that contain representations of deities or ancestors.