Archaeologists from INAH have discovered an ancient Maya city spanning over 50 hectares, including hidden pyramids up to 15 meters tall.
It was expected that significant archaeological discoveries would be found beneath the vast jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula. This time, an ancient city of the Maya culture was discovered in the state of Campeche, which also contains pyramids.
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) published their discovery in 2023, and we are gradually learning more details. The city has been named Ocomtún, meaning “stone column,” due to the numerous elements found so far.
New Pyramids Discovered in an Ancient Maya City
Researchers ventured into the Balamkú ecological reserve and found a city covering at least 50 hectares, featuring pyramid structures up to 15 meters high.
They used LiDAR technology, which employs laser beams to measure distances and movements in real-time, to uncover Maya buildings that had been lost for centuries.
Among the findings was a main plaza built in a pyramidal shape, as well as other pyramids in various locations. There was also a 13-meter-high building that might have been a ceremonial civic center.
Additionally, there is a 16-meter-high pyramid next to the main plaza. This is a complete city that could have been an important trading hub during the Late Classic period (600 – 1000 AD).
The city’s location suggests it did not have many inhabitants and was more of a trading or transitional point, mainly because the soil is not suitable for agriculture.
Among the settlements discovered, no major buildings or architectural decorations were found, and the monuments are small and unadorned. However, due to its size, it could have been an important place thousands of years ago.
Source: AND 40
