Traces of a lost Mayan city have been found in the jungles of Mexico
Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered new evidence that Sak Balam—one of the last settlements of the Maya civilization, which served as a refuge following the Spanish conquest—may be hidden deep within the jungle. The findings include the remains of a wall, pottery, and artifacts that could confirm the city’s existence. However, researchers are remaining cautious in their conclusions and continue to test the hypothesis. BBC Science Focus reports on this.
In remote areas of the Mexican jungle, archaeologists have stumbled upon new clues that may point to the location of the legendary Sak Balam—a city considered one of the last refuges of the Maya civilization after the arrival of the Spanish.
The discovery was announced during a meeting of the American Archaeological Association, and the research itself is based on a combination of field excavations and analysis of historical documents. Researchers note that Sak Balam, which translates to “white jaguar,” was founded in 1586 by a group of Lacandon Ch’ol after their previous capital, Lacam Tun, was destroyed by the Spanish. The city existed for over a century before finally disappearing from history.
The lead researcher, archaeologist Yuko Shiratori, describes life in this settlement as difficult and tense, emphasizing its historical significance. “I think life in Sak Balam was not easy. Documents indicate that there were over 100 houses here in 1694,” she said.
One of the main pieces of evidence for the city’s possible location was a wall measuring 16 meters long and about 1 meter high, which matches the descriptions of Sak Balam’s large public structures in Spanish sources.
In addition, archaeologists discovered fragments of pottery and a small monkey figurine that may date back to the period when the settlement existed. However, scientists emphasize that it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions. “I need to determine whether the 16-meter wall is the foundation of a building. To do this, I hope to find associated artifacts, such as pottery—including incense burners—and charcoal, so I can date them using AMS radiocarbon analysis,” Shiratori explained.
Spanish chronicles also indicate that Sac Balam was burned during the conquest, so underground layers of ash could be the key to confirming its existence. If the hypothesis is confirmed, this discovery could provide new insights into the final period of the Maya civilization.
