Context:
Archaeologists in Mexico have made a significant discovery in the dense jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula, uncovering the remains of an ancient Maya city.
Relevance:
GS I: History
Dimensions of the Article:
- Major Findings Related to the Ancient Maya City
- Maya Civilization
Major Findings Related to the Ancient Maya City:
Expedition and Discovery:
- The National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) led the expedition to Ocomtún.
- Airborne laser scanning was used to identify pre-Hispanic structures in the region.
- Ocomtún, meaning “stone column” in Yucatec Maya language, was a prominent city in the central lowland region of the Yucatan Peninsula between 250 and 1000 AD.
Unique Settlement Pattern:
- The discovery revealed an elevated terrain surrounded by wetlands, indicating a distinctive and strategic settlement pattern.
Inhabitation and Rituals:
- Pottery fragments suggest that Ocomtún was inhabited during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD).
- The site was located near the La Riguena river, possibly used for community rituals.
- Central altars indicate the presence of community rituals, emphasizing the spiritual and communal aspects of Maya life.
Maya Ballgame:
- The Maya ballgame was played in the region, representing a significant religious practice.
- The game involved passing a rubber ball, symbolizing the sun, through a stone hoop without using hands.
Period of Change:
- Ocomtún likely experienced significant changes between 800 and 1000 AD.
- This period coincided with the decline and collapse of the Lowland Maya civilization, characterized by population decline, urban center deterioration, and political instability.
- The fall of Ocomtún and other Maya cities reflected a larger regional collapse, marking a transformative phase in Maya history.
Maya Civilization:
- The Maya are indigenous people who inhabited Mexico and Central America, with their origins in the Yucatán region.
- They emerged as a prominent civilization around 250 CE in southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize, and western Honduras.
- The height of Maya culture, known as the Classic Period, lasted until about 900 CE.
- The Maya civilization was highly advanced and influential in various fields.
- They developed sophisticated systems of writing, astronomy, mathematics, art, architecture, and religion.
- Maya cities featured impressive structures such as pyramids, palaces, temples, and plazas.
- Despite their remarkable achievements, much about their history and culture remains enigmatic and still a subject of ongoing research and exploration.
-Source: Indian express
