Workers On A Mexican Rail Project Stumble Upon An Ancient Maya City
PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Maya Train project has churned up archaeological discoveries as well as the ire of environmental activists.
The $8 billion Maya Train project began in Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula as a way to connect historical sites in the area and expose tourists to more of the country. But it also helped uncover an ancient Maya city.
The site, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum and dubbed “Paamul II,” contains more than 300 buildings, some of which are over 26 feet tall.
The ancient Maya city is certainly an exciting find, but it’s not the only thing that’s been unearthed during the construction of the railroad. In addition, over 25,000 so-called “immovable assets” have been found. These assets include ancient roads, ceramic pots, and human bones.
That said, this exciting history news story came with a caveat. Many environmental activists are furious about the construction of the railroad, which they argue will destroy flora and fauna in the area.
“It’s very concerning that we are not aware of the environmental impact studies because we don’t know the viability of a project in an ecosystem that is tremendously fragile,” said Laura Patiño Esquivel, the president of the environmental group Moce Yax Cuxtal.
For now, however, it seems that the project will go on. Perhaps the railroad construction will expose even more archaeological finds along the way.
After looking through these history news stories from 2022, enjoy these colorized photos that bring the past to life. Then, learn something new today with these 77 amazing facts.
