An enormous, prehistoric structure discovered in Mexico could offer insight into how early Maya societies viewed the world. The 3,000-year-old site, known as Aguada Fénix, was likely a cosmogram geometric representation of the universe, according to recent research by archaeologists. Researchers found that the large cross-shaped pit (called a cruciform), first noted in 2020 amid a dense jungle, is only one of several interconnected structures linked by canals.
These cruciforms have a combined volume of over 3.8 million cubic metres, roughly equivalent to more than 1,500 Olympic swimming pools, or nearly one-and-a-half Pyramids of Giza. Located on Mexico’s Gulf Coast in present-day Tabasco state, Aguada Fénix was identified using airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) by a team from the University of Arizona.
Pigments found in the pits correspond to the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west – and are believed to be the oldest-known examples of such directional colour symbolism in Mesoamerica. Bright blue azurite marks the north, yellow ochre the south, green malachite the east, and pearly seashells the west.
Dr James A Doyle, an independent Maya specialist, told BBC Science Focus, “The cruciform shapes and colour symbolism encoded in the architecture are the physical embodiment of notions of how the earthly plane was organised, governed by the cardinal directions.”
He added, “The dam and canals highlight the importance of water both practically and symbolically, which is also reflected in the blue/green pigments, shells, and greenstone offerings.”
Significantly, new research, published in Science Advances, suggests that the construction was carried out by a non-hierarchical group. The authors found no evidence of palaces, tombs, or a centralised ruling class, which are prominent in later Maya cities.
Doyle noted that these structures are “some of the largest ever built in the region,” and estimated that at least 1,000 workers over several years would have been required to carve and shape the bedrock into the cosmogram. Rather than being imposed by a privileged elite, the builders may have belonged to an egalitarian, cooperative society interested in communal rituals, astronomical observations, and calendar keeping.
Story continues below this ad
Archaeologists also uncovered jade sculptures mostly of animals, but one appears to depict a woman giving birth. They stated that rather than glorifying gods or rulers, these figures seem to reflect natural events and everyday life.
Doyle observed that Aguada Fénix still has much to teach us about social equality, especially because of the ‘jade woman’. He asked, “What if she had been a strong leader, as we know from many later societies in Mesoamerica… and the Central Andes?”
He then added, “The picture of disparities in the accumulation of goods or influence will undoubtedly become clearer with more excavation and expanded knowledge about the peoples who built Aguada Fénix.”
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
