Ancient Building of Snake God Worship Found in the Middle of the Wilderness

suku maya

"Ancient Building of Snake God Worship Found in the Middle of the Wilderness Forest"

This location may be associated with the ancient Maya settlement area known as Itzamkanac, which was a regional administrative center and a hub of trade activities.

The experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH) have discovered a circular structure at the El Tigre archaeological site located in the forest, in the state of Campeche, Yucatán Peninsula. This ancient building is believed to be associated with worship ceremonies of the snake god in the Mayan society. El Tigre is possibly related to the ancient Maya settlement known as Itzamkanac, which served as a regional administrative center and trading hub.

Sembah Dewa Ular

People in this region, who are part of the Chontal or Putun Maya culture, offer worship to the snake god Kukulcán, among other gods.

Ancient Building of Snake God Worship Found in the Middle of the Wilderness

El Tigre has become a historical place inhabited for over 2,000 years, until the 16th century when the era of Spanish colonization began.

The newly discovered structure dates back to the period of 1000-1200 AD and is believed to have been used for worship ceremonies dedicated to Kukulcán, who is considered equivalent to the wind god Quetzalcóatl in Aztec mythology, as revealed in the statement by INAH.

Source: Newsweek

Based on information from archaeologists, this structure consists of two levels and is estimated to serve as the base for a temple with a flat roof dedicated to Kukulcán.

This is similar to similar structures that have been previously identified in locations such as Edzná, Becán, Uxmal, and Chichen Itzá throughout the Yucatán region.

The uniqueness of this structure lies in its age, which coincides with the period in which ancient Maya settlements established close relationships with other regions in Mesoamerica, such as central Mexico, Oaxaca, and the Gulf coast. This interaction facilitated the exchange of religious ideas between the Chontal Maya and other regions. For example, although the worship of Kukulcán is rooted in earlier Maya traditions, the possible influence of the worship of Quetzalcóatl cannot be ignored.

In the Paxbolón Maldonado Papers, a significant historical document for the region, there is a recorded settlement named Itzamkanac that shows the presence of a temple dedicated to four main gods in the Postclassic Maya period, including one of them being Kukulcán.

Former Temple Kukulcán

Ernesto Vargas Pacheco, a researcher from INAH, stated that the discovery of a circular structure that is likely the remains of the Kukulcán temple at El Tigre indicates that the site corresponds to the city of Itzamkanac, as recorded in historical sources, in line with the site's location and other archaeological evidence.

"Building this expands our knowledge about the late occupation of El Tigre. Circular structures like this are generally associated with the early Postclassic period between A.D. 1000 and 1200, when the Maya region had connections with other areas in Mesoamerica."

General Director of INAH, Diego Prieto in press conference.

The structure was discovered in an archaeological rescue effort that is part of the Maya Trend Project. This project includes the construction of a railway line over 1,600 kilometers long, which is planned to be operational in December. This line crosses the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, a region rich in ancient Maya civilization remains and various antiques.

The Maya Train Project is one of the largest and most controversial infrastructure projects in the history of Mexico. Its goal is to bring tourists from famous coastal resorts in the region to lesser-known inland destinations, including historic Maya sites that represent some of the poorest regions in southern Mexico. Although this project has yielded the discovery of thousands of ancient Maya artifacts and structures, critics have voiced concerns about the potential risks of damage or destruction to the historic sites and the surrounding environment.

news update

Viral Appearance of Extinct Ancient Birds, Reappears in Aceh!

Want to know more about the Kingfisher Bird? Let's find out more interesting facts about this bird!