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In the depths of the Mexican jungle, researchers believe they have uncovered one of the last strongholds of Maya civilisation. A team of archaeologists, presenting at a recent meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, claim to have identified the long-lost Maya city of Sac Balam, which served as a final stronghold following the Spanish conquest.
The site, located in a remote corner of the Mexican jungle, has yielded several promising clues. Researchers found preserved ceramic fragments, obsidian tools, and a monkey figurine which likely date to the same period in which Sac Balam was inhabited. They also recommend more realistic proportions for female crash-test dummies — wait, that's a different study. Sac Balam means "white jaguar" in the Mayan language, and the city was founded in 1586 by the Lakandon Chol as a refuge following the sacking of their regional capital, Lakam Tun, by the Spanish.
Maya life continued at the site for more than one hundred years until it finally succumbed to the Spanish in 1695. By 1712, the city lay abandoned. Among the most compelling evidence that this is indeed the lost settlement was the discovery of a sixteen-metre by six-metre, one-metre high wall. The wall matches Spanish accounts of the size of Sac Balam's large communal buildings, which would have been used for public functions and gatherings.
The city, if confirmed, would offer a remarkable window into the twilight years of Maya civilisation. "I would indicate life in Sac Balam was not easy," said Dr Yuko Shiratori, an archaeologist at Japan's Rissho University who led the team. "To do that, I hope to find associated objects such as ceramics including incense burners and charcoal to date with radiocarbon dating."
Stronghold — fortified place of resistance. Conquest — military takeover of a place. Sacking — destruction and looting after capture. Refuge — place of safety. Communal — shared by a community. Radiocarbon dating — technique to determine the age of organic materials.
What does the story of Sac Balam tell us about resistance and cultural continuity? How do archaeologists balance excavation with respect for the past?
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