Long-Lost Mayan City Unearthed In a Backyard in Mexico

A team of archeologists led by Brandeis University's Associate Professor of Anthropology Charles Golden and Brown University's Bioarchealogist Andrew Scherer successfully unearthed an ancient Mayan civilization on Wednesday.

Golden and Andrew began excavating a Mexican cattle rancher's backyard in June 2018 where they found an abundance of Maya monuments.

The monuments held important scriptures depicting the ancient people's rituals and water serpents. The inscriptions also showed a mythical water serpent, and a dance performed for the rain god.

The excavation also unearthed one of the world's long-lost cities---the Mayan capital Sak Tz'i'. The research team found the ruins of various pyramids, a royal palace, and a ball court.

Golden and his colleagues believe the archeological site was part of the Sa Tz'i kingdom which was occupied by its first settlers around 750 BCE where they were said to have stayed for 1,000 years.

The site, which was named Lacanja Tzeltal, is located in the state of Chiapas.

Researchers have been looking for evidence of the capital's existence since they found references to it in previously discovered inscriptions from other Maya excavation sites.

Maya sculptures in museums also mention the lost Maya city.

Sak'Tz'i' was considered as one of the most powerful Maya kingdoms. The discovery furthers the understanding of the lost kingdom's politics and culture.

Golden described the finding as trying to look for a place called France from descriptions on historical documents and maps from medieval times.

All findings from the recent excavation were reported in the Journal of Field Archaeology.

Life in the Capital

The lost capital of Sak'Tz'i, which translates to the white dog, was relatively small.

Maya commoners lived in the countryside to harvest crops and craft tools and pottery.

The researchers found ruins of what was likely to be the city's marketplace. Authorities who analyzed the sites said dogs were used as a trading currency in the Maya kingdom.

Remnants of a 45-foot high pyramid, elite residences, and religious ritual sites were uncovered in the northeastern part of the city.

Religious events and political activities were often performed at the "Plaza Muk' ul Ton." The Monuments Plaza was a 1.5-acre courtyard where flocks of people gathered to witness the ceremonies.

A towering platform held an array of temples and reception halls. This is where members of the Maya royal family are believed to be buried.

Foreign Relations

Sak Tz'i' was surrounded by powerful states. The inhabitants of the capital were constantly faced with the threat of warfare and violence.

Evidence found in the archeological site showed the capital was surrounded by walls to keep out invaders.

The lost kingdom of Sak'Tz'i considered its ability to arrange negotiations as its greatest military strength.

Inscriptions

Scriptures and sculptures found among the ruins told stories about a mythical water serpent and gods who remain unnamed.

The inscriptions also spoke of the daily lives of Maya dynastic rulers, a mythical flood, and historic births and battles of many rulers.

The Maya people believed royalty had the ability to become a god.

Charles Golden and his team are planning to return to the Sak Tz'i' excavation site in June with mapping tools to reveal the architecture and land scope of the lost kingdom.