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More than a million archaeological pieces discovered along Maya Train route

Mexico City, Mexico — The recovery of archaeological assets that accompanies the construction of the Maya Train is one of the most important things to come out of it, said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during his morning press conference.

“There are hundreds of archaeologists and researchers working (…) in the discoveries and rescue of important pieces so that the cultural greatness of this Mayan region of our country is better known,” he added.

During the morning press conference, Diego Prieto Hernández, the General Director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), reported as of December 6, more than a million historic findings have been made.

He explained their registration and preservation includes 31,306 real estate such as foundations, albarradas and leveling, 1,541 movable goods, metates and lithics in addition to 463 bones, 708,428 ceramic fragments, 576 vessels and 1,040 natural features associated with the archaeological context such as caves, wells and cenotes.

He stressed that such extensive archaeological work had never been carried out as the one currently promoted by the Government of Mexico in the Mayan area of Mexico and Mesoamerica. The field study and analysis of information will contribute to the knowledge of the Mayan culture for up to 20 years.

A female deity on the north face, and a male numen on the south. The pieces were found in Uxmal, Yucatan. Photo: INAH

“We have information that will nourish the knowledge and study of the Mesoamerican Mayan world for at least the next two decades. In other words, this work will have an impact on the study of the Mayan cultures of the past and the present for many years to come,” he said.

These discoveries are possible thanks to more than 950 field specialists of which 50 are INAH workers and around 900 hired for the research process.

There are more than 450 archaeologists and experts in physical anthropology, ethnology, history, biology, environment, surveyors, drones and restorers and restorers of cultural assets, he added.