Previously Unknown Mayan City 'El Jefeciño' Found Along Maya Train Route

Discovery

Mexican archaeologists have recorded a previously undocumented Mayan settlement in the dense forests of Quintana Roo during excavation linked to the Maya Train project. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) named the site “El Jefeciño.” Researchers date the settlement to between 250 and 900 AD (the Early and Late Classic periods) and have documented roughly 80 structures across at least 100 hectares, including five principal buildings up to 14 meters high arranged around a C-shaped plaza. Excavations also revealed painted plaster fragments in white, orange and red, partial human remains likely from a burial context, and three vaulted Petén-style constructions associated with elite or ceremonial use.

Significance and next steps

Officials said the find is notable both for its scale and for how it came to light—local residents alerted authorities during construction rather than the site being located by advanced remote sensing. INAH researchers believe the new site and its proximity to other major Mayan centers could reshape understanding of regional political and economic ties during the Classic era. Further analysis, including planned laser scanning, aims to identify additional hidden structures and clarify the settlement's role in the wider Maya landscape, as reported by SANA