A Slovenian archaeologist makes a major new discovery in Mexico (PHOTO)

A major archaeological discovery has been made in Mexico by Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Šprajc, revealing one of the largest Maya cities ever found in the central lowlands of the Yucatán Peninsula. The site, known locally as El Yesal, spans more than a square kilometre and was previously unknown to researchers. According to the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), the area had not been officially recorded, and only a handful of explorers had visited it before Šprajc’s team conducted their survey. The city is believed to have been one of the largest Maya settlements in the region during its peak. The newly uncovered site features a large acropolis with a rectangular layout measuring 150 metres on each side, rising 15 metres above ground level. At its centre stand four pyramids, the tallest of which reaches 27 metres. This structure suggests a complex urban organisation, with the acropolis likely serving as a political and religious hub. The findings indicate that El Yesal was home to a substantial population and played a key role in the surrounding region's history. Šprajc’s research, part of a broader effort supported by the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), has brought new insights into the pre-Columbian past of the Yucatán. The project received funding through a grant from Slovenia’s Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (ARIS), supplemented by contributions from several Slovenian companies and the Milwaukee Audubon Society in the United States. These resources enabled the team to conduct extensive excavations and utilise modern technology to document their findings. One of the notable achievements of the expedition was the reconstruction of a damaged stone monument using photogrammetry. Octavio Esparza Olguin, an epigrapher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico’s Center for Maya Studies, used this technique to create a three-dimensional model of the stele. The process allowed for detailed analysis of inscriptions, revealing imagery of a ruler holding a staff and adorned with symbols representing the god of lightning and thunder, known as K’inich Ahau or Jopaat. The site’s historical significance is further underscored by the architectural style and spatial arrangement of the acropolis, which bears similarities to other well-known Maya sites such as Edzná. While definitive conclusions will require further study, particularly of ceramic fragments collected during test pits, the initial evidence suggests that the southern portion of El Yesal was constructed during the Preclassic period, roughly between 600 BCE and 250 CE. Subsequent expansion occurred towards the north, with the city continuing to thrive through at least the end of the Classic period, around 900 CE. The discovery has sparked renewed interest in the region’s ancient history and highlights the potential for further uncovering lost chapters of Mesoamerican civilisation. As the research continues, additional analyses of artefacts and structures will provide deeper understanding of the social, economic, and cultural dynamics that shaped life in El Yesal. The work of Šprajc and his team exemplifies the collaborative nature of modern archaeology, blending traditional fieldwork with cutting-edge technological tools to illuminate the past.