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Lost Maya City Found: Jungle Yields Thousand-Year Secret
25 Jun
Summary
- An intact ancient Maya city, Minanbe, was discovered undisturbed for over 1,000 years.
- The remote site features a 43-foot pyramid, 14 altars, and advanced water systems.
- LiDAR technology aided the discovery of the Late Classic period urban center.
A remarkable Maya city, completely undisturbed for more than a millennium, has been unearthed in the remote jungles of southern Mexico. Named Minanbe, meaning "there is no road," the site was found in Campeche's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve by a joint Mexican-Slovenian archaeological team.
The extensive urban center, initially detected by aerial LiDAR scanning, covers approximately 15 hectares. Ground verification revealed a 43-foot-high pyramid temple in the Rio Bec style, alongside 14 carved altars and stelae, plazas, and palatial buildings. The discovery is significant due to the site's pristine condition, with no evidence of looting.
Minanbe likely flourished during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD), playing a crucial role in regional trade and agriculture. Researchers anticipate that further study will illuminate details about the city's inhabitants, political dynamics, and eventual decline, offering fresh perspectives on Maya civilization.
