Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have made a significant archaeological discovery during ongoing construction works on Section 7 of the Mayan Train project. This remarkable find consists of a funerary urn bearing the representation of the god of corn, containing the mortal remains of an individual. The urn, identified as a Paaktzatz style vessel, was unearthed as part of the archaeological rescue efforts associated with the Mayan Train project.
Diego Prieto Hernández, the general director of INAH, provided insights into the discovery, stating that the urn was found alongside another vessel of the same type, suggesting its role as part of a founding offering, likely associated with a pre-Hispanic building. Hernández elaborated, "It is a raw clay pot that contains the mortal remains of a person."
The urn itself still exhibits intricate applications on its body, believed to symbolize the Mayan concept of "ik," signifying wind and divine breath. Furthermore, the obverse of the urn features a small anthropomorphic figure crafted from pastillage, representing the god of corn during its growth stage.
Archaeologists involved in the recovery process noted that similar depictions of this Mayan deity have been found in figurines from the island of Jaina, located in Campeche. Notably, the lid of the urn also bears the representation of an owl, a symbol shared with the second vessel discovered in the offering. In Mayan culture, the owl held significance as an omen and a symbol of war during the Classic period, particularly evident in the Paaktzatz vessels from 680 to 770 AD in the Río Bec cultural area.
The second vessel, on the other hand, boasts ornamentations simulating the thorns of a ceiba tree, a sacred tree in Mayan beliefs, which continues to hold symbolism to this day.
This discovery underscores the significant efforts being made to preserve Mexico's rich cultural heritage during the construction of the Mayan Train project. The INAH has reported that more than 40,000 archaeological assets have been protected during these efforts.
As of January 8, 2024, Section 5, 6, and 7 of the Mayan Train project, spanning from Cancún to Escárcega, have yielded substantial archaeological findings. Section 5 has seen the protection of 9,038 real estate structures, 56,362 ceramic fragments, and various other items of historical significance. Meanwhile, Section 6 and Section 7 have also contributed significantly to the preservation of archaeological assets, with Section 7 in particular recording the highest figures.
Diego Prieto Hernández emphasized the upcoming opening of a new service space in the Archaeological Zone of Tulum and the development of museography and visitor facilities at the Museum of the Eastern Coast. These initiatives aim to enrich the cultural and tourist offerings alongside the ongoing archaeological rescue efforts associated with the Mayan Train project.
