A team of archaeologists have uncovered new evidence that a site in a remote corner of the Mexican jungle may be the long-lost Maya city of Sac Balam, which served as a final stronghold following the Spanish conquest.
The discovery, presented at a recent meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, could offer a remarkable window into life during the twilight hours of Maya civilisation.
“I would imagine life in Sac Balam was not easy,” Dr Yuko Shiratori, an archaeologist at Japan’s Rissho University who led the work, told BBC Science Focus. “The documents say there were more than 100 houses in 1694.”
Sac Balam, which literally means “white jaguar” in the Mayan language, was founded in 1586 by the Lakandon Chʼol as a refuge following the sacking of their regional capital, Lakam Tun, by the Spanish.
Mayan life continued at the site for more than 100 years until it finally succumbed to the Spanish in 1695. By 1712, the city lay abandoned.
Among the most compelling evidence that this is indeed the lost settlement was the discovery of a 16m-long (52ft), 1m-high (3ft) wall.
The wall matches Spanish accounts of the size of Sac Balam’s large communal buildings, which would have served for public functions and gatherings.
As well as this, the team found ceramic fragments and a monkey figurine which likely date to the same period in which Sac Balam was inhabited.
Still, questions remain over whether this truly is the lost refuge. “I need to figure out whether the 16m wall is a foundation for a building,” Shiratori said. “To do that, I hope to find associated objects such as ceramics including incense burners (incensarios) and charcoal to date with AMS carbon dating.”
Spanish documents record that Sac Balam was burned during their conquest, meaning a layer of ash beneath the soil could also confirm whether this is truly the lost city.
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