An ancient Mayan city has been discovered deep within the Mexican jungles. This remarkable settlement, known as Ocomtún or ‘stone column’, was a significant hub between 250 and 1000 AD and is situated in a largely unexplored stretch of jungle, which is even larger than the size of Arizona. Covering approximately a fifth of a square mile, Ocomtún is located in the Campeche region of the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
The city was unearthed in May by a team of archaeologists led by Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Šprajc, who ventured into the dense jungle and spent a month unearthing the remains of this ancient civilization. Šprajc suggests that the stone columns found in the city would have served as entrances to the upper floors of the buildings. The city features three main plazas, and there are also courts where the Mayan inhabitants would have played their ancient ball game.
The discovery of Ocomtún was made possible through the use of LiDAR scanners, an innovative tool that employs laser imaging captured from aircraft to reveal hidden objects and structures below the surface. This method has become particularly popular among archaeologists exploring dense forest and jungle regions.
The Maya civilization, known for their advanced mathematical calendars and impressive pyramid temples, thrived in southeast Mexico and parts of Central America. Although the Maya civilization endured for millennia, from roughly 1800 BC to around 1000 AD, archaeologists believe that Ocomtún fell late in the civilization’s timeline, between 800 and 1000 AD. Political collapse eventually led to the city’s decline centuries before the Spanish conquistadors arrived, ultimately leading to the downfall of the last Mayan stronghold in the late 17th century.
Ocomtún’s core area is situated on elevated ground surrounded by vast wetlands, as noted by Šprajc. The recent excavation has revealed many columns after which the city was named, along with other significant findings such as altars, stone buildings, and remnants of the ancient civilization. The Maya ball game, a popular sport throughout the region, involved passing a rubber ball across a court without the use of hands and trying to get it through a small stone hoop. This game is considered one of the oldest in sports history.
Šprajc and his team have also discovered central altars in an area closer to the La Riguena river, which may have been used for community rituals. However, further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures that once thrived in this city. Šprajc, who has dedicated his career to exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, has previously uncovered several Mayan cities and written a book titled Lost Maya Cities: Archaeological Quests in the Mexican Jungle. He suggests that the collapse of Ocomtún likely mirrors “ideological and population changes” that ultimately led to the broader collapse of Maya societies in the region by the 10th century.
Earlier this year, a similar LiDAR approach uncovered another Mayan civilization in Guatemala. The discovery of Ocomtún offers valuable insight into the rich history of the ancient Maya civilization and sheds light on the factors that contributed to its decline. Recent scientific studies, including research conducted by Dr. André Droxler from Rice University in Texas, suggest that a century-long intense drought played a significant role in the collapse of the Mayan civilization. This theory is further supported by the presence of sediments in the Great Blue Hole in Belize, indicating a lack of rainfall as a contributing factor to the Mayans’ disintegration and subsequent relocation.
The collapse of the Mayan civilization has long been a subject of debate, with numerous theories attempting to explain its enigmatic decline. Dr. Droxler’s research has found that major droughts occurred between 800 and 1000 AD, leading to potential famines and unrest among the Mayan people. This was followed by another drought from 1000 to 1100 AD, coinciding with the collapse of the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá. These climate changes triggered political competition, increased warfare, and overall sociopolitical instability, ultimately culminating in the Classic Maya Collapse.
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