Ancient Mayan city unearthed during construction of $8 billion railway in Mexico

Yet another marvellous architecture was discovered in Mexico, but this came with a pretty hefty bill for the Mexican government. Authorities recently discovered an ancient Mayan city during the construction of a massive railway project worth $8 billion. What will this mean for the project?

Ancient Mayan city discovered

Authorities from Mexico recently released a press release stating that the ongoing project of an archaeological survey between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, unearthed a marvellous Mayan archaeological site consisting of more than 300 buildings ‘some of which are over 8 meters high' as per Mexico Daily News.

The information was released as a part of the briefing of Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador's normal news. According to Artnet News, the director of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Diego Prieto revealed the discovery:

Engineering adjustments are being made to the southern part of section 5 [of the railroad] in order to protect an impressive archaeological site that we’ve recognized as Paamul II

Halting of massive railway project

Initially, the project was started in 2020 but has been halted several times due to many reasons. Now, the authorities want to build a railway that connects several of Yucatán’s historical sites together so that tourists will venture out and explore the area.

However, many environmentalists and archaeologists are against the building of this railway, at all, as it would destroy the ancient finds of Mayan history. For now, it has been decided that the Maya Train will open in December 2023 followed soon by the new Tulum Airport.

Sources used:

Artnet News, 'A Massive Railroad Project in Mexico Has Led to the Discovery of the Ancient Maya City of Paamul II'

Mexico Daily News, 'INAH reports significant archaeological discovery along Maya Train route'

Read more:

⋙ Ancient Mayan artefacts found covered in psychedelics by archaeologists

⋙ Archaeologists discover never-seen-before Mayan god sculpture in Mexico

⋙ Prehistoric skeleton discovered in a cave system in Mexico has forced constructions to stop