A group of explorers has discovered an ancient Mayan city hidden in the Mexican jungle for over a millennium. The team, composed of Slovenian and Mexican researchers, found the city named Minanbe while conducting research in the Calakmul Nature Reserve in Mexico.
Located in the state of Campeche, the city sprawls across 13 hectares and is believed to have been constructed between 600 and 900 AD. The expedition, led by archaeologist Ivan Sprajc from the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences, was part of a project to explore the Central Maya Lowlands.
Utilizing LiDAR imagery analysis, archaeologists Atasta Flores Esquivel, Vitan Vujanović, Israel Chato López, and Quintín Hernández Gómez identified the potential existence of the hidden city beneath the thick jungle canopy.
The city features various structures, including a 13-meter-tall pyramid in the Rio Bec style and a relief depicting water elements and a beheading. Vujanović noted the discovery of a well-preserved temple and a stele with glyphs, a first-time recording for him.
The exploration involved challenging terrain, requiring the use of machetes to clear paths through the dense vegetation. Despite the difficulties, the team’s perseverance paid off with the intact discovery of Minanbe, devoid of any signs of looting.
Sprajc described the find as a significant surprise, emphasizing the importance of the untouched site. The name Minanbé, derived from Yucatec Maya, reflects the absence of disturbance in the area. The city aligns with established patterns in the region, hinting at an agricultural power structure, yet questions remain regarding potential external influences on its social dynamics.