Yucatan
More than 1000 years old Mayan canoe discovered in Mexico
The boat uncovered in Mexico is 1.60 meters long, 80 centimeters wide and 40 centimeters high
© National Institute of Anthropology and History / DPA
During construction work on an underwater cave on the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán, a boat from the Mayan period around a thousand years old was found.
In Mexico, archaeologists have uncovered a boat that is more than a thousand years old. They made the find during salvage work along the planned route of the “Mayan train” on the Yucatán peninsula, near the famous Mayan ruined city of Chichén Itzá, as announced by Mexico’s Ministry of Culture.
Diving archaeologists discovered the canoe when they were in a so-called cenote – a hole in the ground filled with fresh water, which are numerous in the region, are partly connected with each other and were considered sacred places by the indigenous Maya.
First canoe of its kind in such good condition
The boat is said to be 1.60 meters long, 80 centimeters wide and 40 centimeters high. According to an initial estimate, it dates from the period between the years 830 and 950 – long before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors in Mexico in the 16th century. By means of an analysis of the wood with the support of the University of Paris, the exact age is now to be determined. It is the first so well-preserved canoe of its kind in the Maya area, so far only fragments of similar boats have been found in Guatemala and Belize. The canoe could have been used to draw water from the cenote or to bring offerings there.
Huge tourism project in southeast Mexico
The Tren Maya (Maya train) is expected to cover a distance of around 1,500 kilometers from 2024, mostly on the Yucatán peninsula, and transport around three million tourists a year. According to the plans, freight trains and normal passenger trains will also use the new rail network. The train is supposed to boost tourism in southeast Mexico.
However, environmental groups and representatives of indigenous communities have filed lawsuits against the project – there are six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and five biosphere reserves in the region. Archaeologists have already made numerous discoveries along the route under construction, such as wall paintings and vessels.