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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArchaeologists Discover Two Long Lost Ancient Maya Cities in Jungle in Mexico
In an amazing new discovery in the jungles of Mexico, archaeologists have uncovered two ancient Mayan cities, including ruined pyramid temples, palace remains, a monster mouth gateway, a ball court, altars, and other stone monuments, according to a new release by Discovery News. One of the cities had been found decades ago but all attempts to relocate it had failed. The other city was previously unknown and is a brand new discovery, shedding new light on the ancient Mayan civilization.
Expedition leader Ivan Sprajc, of the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), explained that the finding was aided by aerial photographs of the tropical forest of central Yucatan in the state of Campeche, Mexico. Some anomalies were noticed among the thick vegetation of the forest and so a team was sent in to investigate further.
Archaeologists were stunned to discover an entire city in an area between the Rio Bec and Chenes regions, extending some 1,800 miles, which are characterised by their Classic architecture dating to around 600 to 1,000 AD.
Although the city had originally been found by the American archaeologist Eric Von Euw in the 1970s, who produced records and drawings of the ancient Mayan ruins, the location was lost and all attempts to relocate the city, which he named Lagunita, had been unsuccessful until now.
- See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/archaeologists-discover-two-long-lost-ancient-maya-cities-jungle-mexico#sthash.AYFQwS63.dpuf
pipoman
(16,038 posts)I have a good friend and her husband who are native to that region. The Mayan depictions of people which I always viewed as abstract seem almost like caricatures based on my friends physical characteristics. Such a great and interesting history.
Oh, we were recently discussing their racial classification as Caucasian, they find it disrepectful to their actual origins...i find it a bit bigoted...
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)I've visited Chichen Itza and Tulum and have read up a bit on the Mayan civilization - it's fascinating. And that Yucatan jungle is really, really dense; it's not surprising that this city wasn't discovered until recently.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Aldo Leopold
(685 posts)"Lost City of Z" is a great non-fiction book on this theme, in case you haven't read it.