The Yucatán Peninsula has seen a variety of archaeological discoveries as a result of the Maya Train project, and now there is a brand-new one: the estimated 1,200-year-old skeletal remains of a human.
INAH archaeologists have discovered the bones of someone believed to be an important figure in the ancient Maya site known as El Tigre. (Insituto nacional de Antropología e Historia / Cuartoscuro.com
The discovery was made public on Monday by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). According to INAH, the find is significant since the deceased's bones, who were still relatively young at the time of death, were discovered inside a sizable burial container with "a showy and well-preserved jade ring."
The Mesoamerican Late Classic period (600–800 AD) artifact was found in Campeche's El Tigre archaeological zone. El Tigre, also known as Itzamkanac by the Chontal Maya and located on the Candelara River's bank, was a significant ceremonial and commercial center in antiquity. During his 1525 voyage to Honduras, Hernán Cortés is said to have murdered Cuauhtémoc, the last Mexica ruler, there.
An INAH press release emphasized the skeleton’s “showy and well-preserved jade ring,” which likely denotes the importance of the person who was buried with it. (INAH / Cuartoscuro.com)
Diego Prieto Hernández, the chairman of INAH, stated this during the news conference held by President López Obrador on Monday morning. "A green stone ring, a jade ring, was placed as an offering." This is "a very important component that speaks to the significance of this person."
Before coming together in Escárcega, Campeche and going on to Palenque, Chiapas, the Maya Train travels through the state of Campeche on two different lines, one from Mérida, Yucatán and one from Bacalar, Quintana Roo.
The Program for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones (Promeza) is overseeing archaeological excavation in three locations along the Maya Train route: Moral-Reforma in the state of Tabasco, Palenque, and El Tigre.
With the most recent discovery, Section 1 of the Maya Train now has 177 pre-Columbian human burials, according to Prieto Hernández. These findings were made while archeological monitoring was being done during track construction.
One of the vessels found at El Tigre. The skeleton with the jade ring was found in a similar vessel. (INAH / Cuartoscuro.com)
Prieto Hernández reported that discoveries up until August 14 along the portion of the train that goes from Escárcega to Palenque included 2,698 houses, 248 pieces of furniture, 281,353 ceramic shards, and 55 natural features connected to pre-Columbian human activity.
The opening of El Tigre to tourists is progressing. Activities geared toward achieving this goal include building a visitor center and exploring and conserving the site's main square, market square, and so-called triadic complex.
