Mel Gibson concludes filming in Veracruz, donates to poor

Mel Gibson, finishing up filming on his latest project, Apocalypto, which he wrote and directed, has made a donation which will go towards building homes for the poor in the Mexican state of Veracruz, where most of the filming took place. The movie, set in the pre-Columbian Maya heartland and spoken in the Yucatec Maya language, promises to be action-filled and violent. Historians have expressed concern about the accuracy of the film's depiction of the ancient Maya, but Mel's not worried, he's sure to make a bundle. The movie is scheduled to be released in December.

• Learn more about the Maya and Mexico's other ancient cultures.
• View the movie trailer for Apocalypto.