A archaeological area has been recovered by the cultural authorities of Mexico in the Yucatan peninsula. The deposit is formed by buildings from the Mayan period that have more than 1,500 years old and they were buried under both sides of a road.
The road where the find is found is the one that connects the cities of Mérida, capital of Yucatán, with Campeche. A parador has been adapted in the area so that visitors can take a tour, as reported by the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH). As explained by the INAH, the building recovery work has been carried out for three years and four months.
The site consists of five mayan buildings that resemble palaces and was part of the prehispanic city of Oxkintok. Its arrangement is part of the Mayan architectural style that developed in the north during the Early Classic period, between 300 and 600 after Christ, according to the project coordinator, Eunice González.
“These constructions are part of large residential platforms that measure up to 60 meters long by 50 meters wide, on which masonry buildings and vaulted ceilings were built around a patio.”, Says Eunice González.
According to the specialist, the buildings could be part of the residential area of the city of Oxkintok, an archaeological zone that is barely 2 kilometers from the place where the road passes. It is an important archaeological site, since its buildings are from all the chronological stages of the Mayan zone.
The buildings are visible to left of the road direction Mérida-Campeche. Among the buildings is one of Early Oxkintok style (300-500 AD) and three others are of the style Puuc Classic (years 850-900 after Christ). In the central area that divides the two directions of the road there is another Puuc-style building. The building was removed from his place in order to be preserved and restored.
The archaeological parador was built thanks to the agreement between the INAH Center of Yucatán and the Ministry of Communications and Transportation due to the new highway extension. The original layout of this was modified several times to try to preserve the historical heritage.
According to the INAH, during the restoration work of the place remains of 170 buildings dating from the Upper Preclassic period to the Late Classic period were found. In addition to these structures, the remains of some 180 vessels have also been unearthed, as well as 100 metals destined as offerings and five lime kilns. It also highlights the discovery of a necropolis nearby with almost a hundred tombs with different characteristics.
Another important finding has been the corn shelters, which shows that the city suffered from droughts. However, researchers have yet to conduct several studies to confirm such a theory and determine when did they take place. “I would dare to say that there was such a drought because in a single building we found three silos, which were areas used to store corn”.
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