Hidden Maya City Unearthed in Campeche Jungle

A joint Mexican-Slovenian team led by archaeologist Ivan Sprajc identified the city using aerial LiDAR scanning, which revealed 15 hectares of plazas, palaces, and religious structures beneath the thick forest canopy. Ground verification confirmed a 43-foot-high pyramid temple, 14 carved stelae, and sophisticated hydraulic channels. The site stands out for its lack of modern disturbance; the absence of logging roads or evidence of looting provides an undisturbed record of Maya life between the 7th and 12th centuries CE.

The structures, including the central pyramid, exhibit the distinctive Rio Bec architectural style. Archaeologist Vitan Vujanovic, who conducted the physical survey, noted the remarkable preservation of the temple compared to other regional sites. While the city likely flourished as a hub for regional trade and agriculture between 600 and 900 AD, evidence of deliberate damage to certain monuments suggests the community faced significant political or social conflict before its eventual abandonment.