A remarkably well-preserved Maya canoe — built for use some 1,100 years ago — has been found in a freshwater pool, or ‘cenote’, in the Yucatán, southern Mexico.
The wooden artefact — more than five feet in length — was found near the ruined city of Chichen Itza by Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia experts.
Archaeologists believe that the archaeologists used the canoe to either extract water from a cenote or to deposit offerings for rituals.
Alongside the canoe, the pool and adjacent water bodies yielded other finds — including a human and ceramic skeleton, and a hand mural on a rock ceiling.
This mural appears to be significantly older than the canoe, dating back to the Maya Late Postclassic Period, which ran from 1200–1500 CE.
Additionally, the researchers explained, the discoveries of a sculpted stone stela, ritual knife and 40 broken vessels indicate that the cenote was long a site for rituals.
A remarkably well-preserved Maya canoe (pictured) — built for use some 1,000 years ago — has been found in a freshwater pool, or ‘cenote’, in the Yucatán, southern Mexico
Archaeologists believe the canoe was used to extract water from the cenote (pictured) or to deposit offerings during rituals.
Alongside the canoe, the pool and its surrounds have yielded other finds — including a human and ceramic skeleton, as well as a mural of painted hands on a rock ceiling. Pictured: Researchers explore underground at the cenote.
Additionally, the researchers explained, the discoveries of a sculpted stone stela, ritual knife and 40 broken vessels (like that pictured) indicate that the cenote was long a site for rituals
Helena Barba Meinecke, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia archaeologist, stated that it was evident that the area was where ceremonies were held.
She explained that this is evident not only because of the deliberately fragmented pottery but also because of the charcoal remains that indicate their exposure and the way they covered them with stones.
Furthermore, Ms Barba Meinecke noted, the fact that the pottery remains come in various different styles dating from different time periods indicates that the site was used for rituals over the course of many centuries.
She continued, “The significance lies in the fact it is the first canoe type of this type that is complete” and “so well preserved in Mayan area,” she said.
“There are also fragments from these boats and oars found in Quintana Ro, Guatemala, and Belize.”
The canoe dates back to the end of the classic period of Maya history which spanned from 830–950 CE, when the civilisation was still at its peak.
The discoveries were made as part of Tren Maya — or ‘Maya Train’ — an initiative from Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to lay a high-speed intercity train line across the heart of the Yucatán peninsula.
The controversy surrounding the multi-billion-dollar construction project has been centered on its environmental impact and its proximity to archaeological sites and Maya culture.
Nevertheless, the program has offered Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia researchers an opportunity to preserve some of the history being uncovered along the Tren Maya route — with hundreds of burials and ceramic vessels already found.
Experts stated in a statement that the construction of a Mayan Train represents an important research opportunity, through archaeological recovery.
These excavations, they claimed, will allow them expand our ‘knowledge regarding the archaeological sites within the regions the train will travel through.
Helena Barba Meinecke, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia archaeologist, stated that it was evident that the cenote site was a place where ceremonies were held. Pictured: The researchers measure within the cenote.
Ms Barba Meinecke explained that the cenote site’s ritual nature is evident, not only because of the deliberately fragmented pottery but also because of the charcoal remains that indicate their exposure and the way they placed stones on them.
‘The relevance lies in the fact that it is the first canoe of this type that is complete and so well preserved in the Mayan area,’ Ms Barba Meinecke continued. These boats and oars are also found in Quintana Ro, Guatemala, and Belize. Pictured: An artifact from the site
After completing their initial study, the team will now collaborate with experts from Paris’ Sorbonne University to date and analyse the wood used in the canoe.
Alongside this, the researchers have plans to produce a three-dimensional digital model of the vessel based on photographs — one which can be independently analysed and from which replicas might be made for display in museums.
Back at the cenote, the archaeologists are also hoping to drill a borehole in the sediments underneath the site, from which they will be able to determine the nature of the environment at the time the canoe was in use.
The team explained that marks on the stone wall of the cenote indicate that the water level at this site was 16 feet lower than it is now. The cave containing the canoe and its contents was discovered at this depth.
The wooden artefact — more than five feet in length — was found near the ruined city of Chichen Itza by Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia experts
The team has completed their initial study and will now be working with experts at the Sorbonne University, Paris, France to more precisely date the wood that makes up the canoe. Pictured: The team digs meticulously at the site