A new finding by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) would demonstrate the true power and grandeur of the ancient Maya city of Dzibilchaltún in Yucatán.
During the work of archaeologists, restorers, researchers, and masons at the site, a castle and a burial monument were discovered in this location, which is just 12 kilometers from the capital, Mérida.
The project leader, Ángel Góngora Salas, explained that the explorations are temporarily halted due to the waiting for new special tools that will allow the movement of stones and earth without damaging the buried structures.
According to Góngora Salas, although approximately 60% of the palace’s staircases and residential area have been reconstructed, the process is progressing slowly due to the meticulous removal of vegetation found in the area.
The residential area consists of 50 rooms and spans approximately 80 meters in length and 12 meters in width. However, a large part of the structure remains underground due to the multiple modifications made by the ancient Maya on at least four occasions.
During the excavations, the INAH team found a burial belonging to the city’s main ruler. This discovery, which includes a series of offerings such as pottery, jade, and deer bones depicting underworld scenes related to the jaguar, will be exhibited to the public once the construction of the new site museum is completed.
Furthermore, in the southern area of the city, other platforms were discovered that form a sort of “white road” (or Sac´be in Maya language), known as Calzada Dos. This finding extends the visitors’ route and reveals further aspects of the social, political, and commercial life of Dzibilchaltún.
However, the most surprising discovery was the finding of a castle in a hidden part of the southern zone. This pyramid, with staircases on all four sides, could change the history of Dzibilchaltún and reveal new aspects of its economic and scholarly importance, according to experts.
TYT Newsroom