Deep within the Yucatán Peninsula's jungle, archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered the ruins of a former Maya city.
Multiple pyramid-like structures with a height of more than 15 meters (50 feet) were discovered by experts.
The Late Classical period, which spans 600 to 800 AD, appears to be represented by pottery discovered at the site.
The location is known by the Mayan name Ocomtn, which means "stone column.".
The Maya, who lived in what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, are thought to have been one of the most advanced civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. They are best known for their enormous stone structures and pyramid temples.
These most recent remains were discovered in an ecological reserve in the state of Campeche, a region that has not been extensively explored due to how densely vegetated it is.
The Central Maya Lowlands, a region of 3,000 sq km of uninhabited jungle, are home to the Central Maya Lowlands, which were discovered, according to Mexico's National Institute for and History (INAH).
According to INAH, the research team was able to find "many concentrations of pre-Hispanic structures" thanks to airborne laser scanning performed by the University of Houston.
The discovery of an elevated terrain surrounded by wetlands, according to the team's leader, Ivan Sprajc, caught everyone off guard.
They discovered a number of large structures on that elevated terrain, including several over 15 m tall pyramid-shaped structures.
According to Mr. Sprajc in a statement issued by INAH, the location "would have served as an important regional center.".
The researcher-named Ocomtn site's cylindrical stone columns, he continued, were likely entrances to rooms in the higher parts of the buildings.
Before succumbing to the collapse of the Lowland Maya civilization in the 10th century, Mr. Sprajc claims that the site likely underwent significant changes between 800 and 1000 AD.
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