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During excavations funded by the Archaeological Zones Improvement Program (Promeza) at the Temple 6 of Maudslay, part of the Casa Colorada complex in Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, the sculpted face of a warrior has emerged. Adorned with a snake helmet with open jaws and a feathered headdress, this recent discovery was unveiled in a morning conference by Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Diego Prieto Hernández, the Director General of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), presented the latest reports from the archaeological salvage conducted in the final phase of the Tren Maya (Maya Train) construction works. Prieto Hernández emphasized that INAH, along with all federal agencies under the Ministry of Culture, supports the recovery of the daily lives of the affected populations in Guerrero, including Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez, recognizing the importance of culture in rebuilding the social fabric of these communities affected by Hurricane Otis.
He highlighted the impact of this work, extending to the southeastern region and the Yucatán Peninsula through Promeza. This initiative strengthens the infrastructure of 27 archaeological sites near the Tren Maya route, providing job opportunities and development for hundreds of residents who were previously mere spectators of their own heritage.
As part of this effort, Prieto Hernández explained that it will result in 10 Visitor Service Centers (Catvi) and eight new and/or updated museums in sites such as Kabah and Tulum, dedicated to the Puuc Route and the eastern coast of Quintana Roo, respectively. Additionally, new cultural spaces, including a significant museum in Chichén Itzá, will be established, along with a new cultural space in Mérida at the Ateneo Peninsular.
The discovery of the anthropomorphic face in the Chichén Itzá Archaeological Zone demonstrates the connection that contemporary Mayans can have with their past. The pre-Hispanic element, which was likely part of a larger sculptural design, was found in the construction fill on the east side of the base of Temple 6 of Maudslay (Structure 3C11), named after the British explorer.
Led by the Chichén Itzá archaeological project, the tasks allowed for the recovery of the 33-centimeter-tall, 28-centimeter-wide, and 22-centimeter-deep piece. Despite being fractured, it stands out for its good state of preservation, indicating that its sculptural parameters align with those used in the earlier periods of the Mayan city.
Prieto Hernández concluded that the vast material evidence of the ancient Mayan civilization, recovered through archaeological salvage, has resulted in the preservation of 57,146 immovable elements, 1,925 movable assets, 1,398,083 ceramic fragments, and 1,467 pieces under restoration. Additionally, 660 human burials and 2,252 natural features associated with ancient settlements have been recorded and preserved across the seven sections cleared for the construction of the Tren Maya, as of November 9, 2023.
