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Lost Maya Site Discovered in Forests of Quintana Roo
Researchers documented about 80 structures at the newly identified Maya site, including intact vaults, painted stucco and a human skeleton in one building.
- On Monday, the National Institute of Anthropology and History announced the registration of El Jefecío, a sprawling ancient Maya city in Quintana Roo discovered after residents reported the site during Maya Train project work.
- Spread over about 100 hectares, the site includes around 80 structures, many displaying Petén-style architecture linked to the Classic Maya period between 250 and 900 AD.
- Archaeologists documented five large structures forming a C-shaped plaza at the site's core, with one building containing decorated stucco fragments painted in white, orange, and red stripes alongside human skeletal remains.
- Because no excavation has occurred, the ruins remain undisturbed; researchers plan future airborne LiDAR mapping to refine the city's layout and compare it to nearby settlements like Mahahual.
- Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza noted the finding helps safeguard historical memory, as experts believe this network clarifies how ancient Maya communities in Quintana Roo linked trade and social systems.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Sprawling ancient Maya settlement discovered in Quintana Roo
Mexican archaeologists have registered a sprawling ancient Maya city in southern Quintana Roo after local residents flagged the site during work on the Maya Train project. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the settlement includes around 80 structures and Petén‑style architecture spread across at least 100 hectares in Othón P. Blanco, a municipality including coastal and jungle areas south of the Bacalar Lago…
Ancient Maya Settlement with 80 Buildings and Rare Wall Paintings Discovered in Mexico
Ancient maya settlement building. Credit: INAH Archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of a Maya settlement in southern Mexico, featuring 80 buildings and rare decorative wall paintings. The site, named “El Jefeciño,” sits in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco in Quintana Roo. It spans an estimated 100 hectares (247 acres), though researchers believe it may extend even further. The National Institute of Anthropology and History, known as IN…
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reported the identification of an area registered as El Jefeciño, a former pre-Hispanic settlement of 80 buildings, located in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo.
Lost Maya site discovered in forests of Quintana Roo
A substantial Maya site concealed within the forests of southern Quintana Roo has recently come to light after local residents alerted the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Now named El Jefeciño, the site is notable not only for its scale but for the archaeological insights already emerging from its remains—multiple construction phases that reveal centuries of adaptation, expansion, and reuse. Spread over about 100 hectares,…
An ancient Mayan city of monumental dimensions remained hidden for centuries between the jungle of the south of Quintana Roo until now. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirmed the archaeological record of El Jefeciño, an impressive pre-Hispanic settlement located in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco that could reconfigure the understanding about the Mayan presence in this region of the country. The finding occurred …
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