A group of researchers discovered a lost Maya city in the territory of the Balamca Ecological Reserve (Mexico). Scientists named it Ocomtun, which means “stone pillar” in the language of the indigenous inhabitants of the Yucatan.

It was found with the help of LiDAR (a type of laser radar that measures distance by emitting light and measures the return time to the receiver).

The system detected numerous remains of monumental structures, including several pyramidal structures up to 15 meters high, in the desolate forest. As it turned out, the city differs from the Mayan settlements known to science according to a number of features.

“The location was the biggest surprise. It is located on a high ‘peninsula” surrounded by large wetland structures. “The monumental core covers more than 50 hectares and includes several large buildings,” said researcher Ivan Preitz of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). said.

Southeast of Okomtun there are three squares surrounded by tall buildings. The passageways to the upper floors are decorated with cylindrical columns. Between the main “streets” is a complex of various low and long structures that diverge in different directions in the form of concentric circles. There are even separate areas for rituals and ball games.

In addition, two more settlements were found near the city – Nadskaan (36 kilometers away) and Chaktun (50 kilometers away). Therefore, scholars are confident that it probably served as an important center during the Classical Maya period (250-1000 AD). Most of the pottery and other artifacts found at the same time belong to the late classical period (AD 600-800).

It has been tentatively determined that the city has been abandoned since about 1000 AD. Archaeologists have found various evidence that the inhabitants hastily abandoned it. However, they have not yet learned the reason for their escape.