New Mayan City Discovered in Mexico: With Sports Fields and Amphitheaters

mexico - Archaeologists uncover a hidden Mayan city named Valeriana in Mexico, featuring pyramids, sports fields, and amphitheaters. The discovery sheds light on a previously unknown ancient civilization.

Archaeologists have unearthed a hidden Mayan city in the southeastern state of Campeche, Mexico, named Valeriana. The city, which is the size of a modern city like Gouda, features pyramids, sports fields, elevated roads connecting districts, and amphitheaters. The discovery was made possible through the use of lasers that detect hidden structures underground from aerial surveys.

The peak of the city likely occurred between 750 and 850 AD, with an estimated population of 30,000 to 50,000 people inhabiting the area. Among the findings are two plazas with temple pyramids, burial grounds containing treasures and masks, a sports field, and a large water reservoir. In total, 6700 buildings were mapped and documented.

The initial clues leading to the discovery were found by a student from Tulane University in the US, who examined an old aerial survey conducted by a Mexican company. Surprisingly, the city is located just a 15-minute walk from a highway, yet the ruins remained unnoticed as most of them were buried under sand.

One of the largest known Mayan cities, the Calakmul site, is approximately 100 km away. Mexico has seen the discovery of around two to three hundred Maya cities over time, with many still concealed beneath the jungle. Notable UNESCO World Heritage sites like Chichén Itzá, featuring the iconic Kukulcán pyramid, highlight the rich Mayan history in the region.