Ocomtún, a recently discovered Mayan city, has unveiled its secrets in the dense jungles of southern Mexico, NBC news reports.
On June 21, anthropologists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) determined that this newfound city was a significant center over a thousand years ago, offering valuable insights into the ancient Mayan civilization.
The INAH revealed that Ocomtún features remarkable architectural structures, including large pyramid-like buildings, stone columns, three plazas with impressive buildings, and various other structures arranged in nearly concentric circles. The city's layout indicates its probable importance within the central lowland region of the Yucatán Peninsula between 250 and 1000 AD.
Named Ocomtún, meaning "stone column" in the Yucatec Maya language, the city was located within the Balamku ecological reserve. The discovery was made during an expedition through an unexplored stretch of jungle, larger than the country of Luxembourg. The exploration, conducted from March to June, utilized aerial laser mapping (LiDAR) technology to penetrate the dense foliage and reveal the ancient city's hidden treasures.
The Maya civilization, renowned for its advanced mathematical calendars, once thrived across southeastern Mexico and parts of Central America. However, political instability led to its eventual decline, predating the arrival of Spanish conquistadors by centuries. The remnants of the Maya civilization were subsequently conquered, with the last stronghold falling in the late 17th century.
According to lead archaeologist Ivan Sprajc, the Ocomtún site has a core area situated on elevated terrain surrounded by vast wetlands. This central zone contains several pyramid-like structures, some reaching heights of up to 15 meters.
Additionally, the city includes a ball court, a common feature in pre-Hispanic Maya sites. The ball game played throughout the Maya region involved passing a rubber ball symbolizing the sun across a court without using hands, attempting to score by getting it through a small stone hoop. The game is believed to have had an important religious purpose in ancient Maya society.
Further exploration led the team to the discovery of central altars closer to the La Riguena River, suggesting that these areas may have been dedicated to community rituals. While the findings are intriguing, additional research is necessary to fully comprehend the cultures that once thrived.
Archaeologists estimate that Ocomtún experienced a decline between 800 and 1000 AD, based on the analysis of materials extracted from the buildings. This decline likely resulted from "ideological and population changes" that contributed to the collapse of Maya societies in the region by the 10th century.
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