Discoveries by Mexican and Spanish archaeologists have revealed the previously unknown extent of the pre-Columbian city of X’baatun in the state of Yucatan.
 |
| Part of the 37-foot-high pyramid located at X'baatun [Credit: EFE] |
“With the recent excavations, we discovered new structures and ceramic fragments ranging from the period 500 to 300 B.C. to A.D. 900 to 1000,” she said.
Varela is working with Juan Garcia Targa of the University of Barcelona and Alfonso Munoz Cosme of the Madrid Polytechnic University, as well as researchers from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
“Doctor Garcia Targa will come to Yucatan next October to continue the first and second phase of the plan,” she said. “We’ll do new excavations, and next January all of us will meet in X’baatun.”
The archaeologists believe that X’baatun, which is located in the Oxhuatz tourism park, was a satellite of the major Mayan city of Izamal.
“We want to return the X’baatun archaeological site to splendor,” said Varela. “We want the inhabitants of the municipality of Tekal de Venegas to feel pride and identity through eco-tourism.”
So far, the excavations have revealed a 37-foot-high pyramid, a ball court, a cenote and several other structures. According to Varela, the pyramid is relatively tall with a narrow base, which is not characteristic of pyramids found in other places.
The archaeologists also hope that the new discoveries will help the site get proper protection.
“The pre-Columbian treasure in the Oxhuatz park is being looted,” said Varela. “And there are other problems: cows from a nearby ranch come to drink water from the cenote, and they destroy the structures.”
Varela added that she is asking the government of Yucatan to provide better protection.
Source: Mexico News Daily [September 30, 2019]
No comments: