Ancient Mayan city unearthed in Mexico

[Judi Lynn]

Ancient Mayan city unearthed in Mexico

Archaeologists discover a 1400-year-old Mayan city in the Mexican jungle with the help of satellite pictures.

Last Modified: 20 Jun 2013 07:28

(Short video at link)


It's been hidden for 1400 years and is one of the most important cities in Mayan civilisation.

Now it's been found in the Mexican jungle.

Al Jazeera's Rachel Levin reports from Mexico City.

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/06/201362071542582465.html

(Easy to see why they wouldn't want to indicate where in Mexico this is, to protect the site. Wouldn't it be great if it hasn't been raided already?)

[Judi Lynn]

1. Team of international archaeologists finds Mayan city believed to be 1,400 years old

Team of international archaeologists finds Mayan city believed to be 1,400 years old
Thursday, June 20, 2013

MEXICO CITY.- A team of national and international experts, led by archaeologist Ivan Šprajc, have baptized an ancient Mayan city, that hadn’t been previously reported, as Chactun “Red Stone” or “Big Stone”. This city is located southeast of the state of Campeche, and it’s one of the biggest sites attributed to this civilization that has been registered in the Low Central Lands.

Discovered a couple of weeks ago, it is believed that the city was the reigning center of a vast region about 1,400 years ago, between 600 and 900 AD., informed the archaeologist Ivan Šprajc, who leads the expedition supported by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), indicating that these facts are inferred given the sites dimensions and the quantity of monuments.

The ancient Mayan metropolis is one of the 80 sites that have been located thanks to the Project of Archaeological Recognition in the Southeast of Campeche, which started in 1996. The finding of these places has been principally based in the recognition, by means of big scale aerial photographs.

Some sites, such as Uxul and King’s Wall, had been previously described by explorers like Karl Ruppert, in the 1930’s. However, Chactun remained ignored by scientific expeditions until today.

The site comprises three monumental complexes. However, its steles and altars –some of which still conserve stucco remains– best reflect the city’s former splendor in the Late Classic period (600-900 AD).

More:
http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=63370#.UcLWm-oo7_Q

(Much better information!)