Mysterious Maya underground structure unearthed in Mexico

Archaeologists in Mexico have made a significant discovery of a hidden underground structure beneath a Maya ball court. The excavation in Campeche, Mexico, revealed a subterranean building with painted walls, raising questions about its purpose and significance.

The finding holds particular importance as ball courts are typically found only at major Maya sites associated with regional political centers. The structure, speculated to originate from the Early Classic period (A.D. 200 to 600), is adorned with a layer of painted stucco. However, further excavations are necessary to fully understand the shape and function of the underlying building, as expressed by Ivan Šprajc, an archaeologist at the Institute of Anthropological and Spatial Studies.

Interestingly, the discovery was made during a broader survey of the Maya Lowlands using lidar technology. By mapping the topography with laser pulses, the team had already uncovered various ancient Maya settlements, including the lost city of Ocomtún with its remarkable Maya Classic period pyramids. The newly found site, situated in an unexplored region south of Ocomtún, astonishes researchers with its plaza, a 52-foot-high pyramid, and a rectangular water reservoir.

Explorations atop the aforementioned pyramid revealed fascinating offerings from the Late Postclassic period (1250-1524) that shed light on the human activities during that era. On the temple summit, archaeologists encountered ceramic vessels, a possible ceramic animal leg, and a chert knife or spear point. This suggests that, despite the decline of the central Maya Lowlands, small impoverished groups persisted after the crisis that had afflicted the region in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Šprajc emphasizes that these offerings exemplify the continued presence of human communities who, even after the abandonment of most Classic period Maya settlements, sought to honor their ancestors by placing tributes on or near ancestral structures.

In summary, the revelation of the enigmatic underground structure beneath the Maya ball court, along with the intriguing offerings discovered at the nearby pyramid, adds new insights to the narrative of the Maya civilization. The ongoing excavations promise to provide a deeper understanding of this fascinating ancient culture and its enduring legacy.