Mexico City, May 2 (SANA) Mexican authorities said they have uncovered a previously unknown Mayan city buried in dense forest in the southern state of Quintana Roo, during excavation work linked to the Maya Train infrastructure project.
The site, which had remained hidden under vegetation for centuries, has been documented by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and named “El Jefeciño,” according to Mexican media reports.
Researchers said the settlement dates from between 250 and 900 AD, spanning the Early and Late Classic periods of the Maya civilization, a time considered its architectural and cultural peak.
The site includes around 80 structures spread across at least 100 hectares, including five major buildings reaching up to 14 meters in height, arranged around a C-shaped plaza. Archaeologists also found remains of painted plaster in white, orange and red, fragments of human bones believed to be linked to a burial site, and three vaulted structures in the Petén architectural style associated with elite or ceremonial use.
Officials said the discovery is significant not only for its scale but also because it was initially reported by local residents during construction work on the Maya Train route, rather than through advanced surveying technology.
The institute said nearby major Mayan sites could help reshape understanding of political and economic links in the region. Further analysis, including laser scanning, is planned to identify additional hidden structures.
R A H
