Lost Mayan city ruins found in Mexican jungle.

Lost Mayan City Discovered in Mexican Jungle

Archeologists have made an exciting discovery in the heart of the Mexican jungle. The ruins of an ancient Mayan city, complete with impressive buildings and pyramidal structures, have been found, according to the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). This remarkable find is believed to have once been a significant regional center, dating back to approximately 250 to 1,000 A.D.

The city, named Ocomtún, was uncovered by a team led by Slovenian archeologist Ivan Ṡprajc in the Balamkú ecological reserve in the Yucatan Peninsula. The site covers more than 50 hectares and features various large buildings, including pyramidal structures towering over 15 meters high. The discovery of stone columns scattered throughout the settlement led to its name, as “Ocomtún” means “stone column” in the Mayan language.

Lost Maya city discovered in Mexican forest https://t.co/A5n6jA4pTO via @HeritageDaily – #Archaeology pic.twitter.com/UTHVfPFMug

— HeritageDaily (@HeritageDaily) June 21, 2023

In March, the University of Houston conducted laser scanning (LiDAR) of the region, which revealed numerous concentrations of pre-Hispanic structures. From May to June, Ṡprajc and his team extensively studied and documented the site. They found that the city served as an important center during the Classic period (250-1000 AD), with the most common ceramic types dating back to the Late Classic (600-800 AD).

The researchers believe that the stone columns were entrances to upper rooms in the buildings. The city is organized around three main plazas, with several “patio groups” and a complex of low and elongated structures arranged in concentric circles. The team even discovered what they believe to be a ball game court.

Ancient Mayan city is discovered in the jungles of eastern Mexico https://t.co/sjbAvXTD0A pic.twitter.com/vkwqlXiIgg

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 22, 2023

The majority of the buildings and structures are located in the northwestern part of the settlement, connected to the southwestern portion by a “causeway.” While most of the pyramids measure around 50 feet tall, one stands at an impressive 82 feet.

Based on the analysis of the buildings and structures, the archeologists believe that the site likely collapsed between 800 and 1,000 A.D., coinciding with the Mayan civilization’s collapse in the southern lowlands, as reported by the BBC. This collapse reflects ideological and population changes during times of crises, leading to the decline of the complex sociopolitical organization and a drastic decrease in population in the Maya Central Lowlands.

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