Archaeology

Great Mayan Aquifer may form interconnections with Maya cenotes

Published

9 months ago

March 15, 2023

A study of the cenote beneath the Kukulcán Pyramid, also known as El templo, suggests that there may be interconnections with other cenotes through the Great Mayan Aquifer.

The Kukulkan Pyramid is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the centre of the Chichen Itza archaeological site, located in the Tinúm Municipality of the Mexican state of Yucatán.

The pyramid was constructed over several phases between the 8th and 12th centuries AD in dedication to the deity Kukulcán, the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent god.

An investigation conducted in 2015 using an electrical resistance survey, revealed a large cenote directly beneath the Kukulcán Pyramid formed by the dissolution of limestone bedrock that created a subsurface void.

The results of the 2015 study found that the subterranean sink hole measures 82 feet (25 metres) by 114 feet (35 metres) at a depth of 65 feet deep (20 metres).

According to a new book, “Explorations of the underground world. An approach to the great Mayan aquifer”, Co-published by the Aspen Institute Mexico and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the authors suggests that the Kukulkan cenote has interconnections with other cenotes through the Great Mayan Aquifer and is aligned at the intersection between four other cenotes: the Sacred Cenote (North), Xtoloc (South), Kanjuyum (East), and Holtún (West).

The book is edited by underwater archaeologist and leader of the Great Mayan Aquifer Project, Guillermo de Anda, who believes that an entrance lies somewhere beneath the Kukulcán Pyramid, used by the Maya to access the “underworld” and make ritual offerings.

Header Image Credit : Shutterstock

Archaeology

Archaeologists find five Bronze Age axes in the forests of Kociewie

Published

17 hours ago

December 4, 2023

According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.

The initial discovery was made by history enthusiast, Denis Konkol, who notified local authorities from the Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments. In Poland, it is forbidden to conduct an amateur search for artefacts using a metal detector, either for commercial or for personal use unless licensed by local authorities, requiring all finds to be reported which become the property of the state.

Upon inspection of the discovery site, archaeologists found five axes within a radius of several dozen metres at a depth of 20 to 30 centimetres beneath a layer of turf and humus.

Igor Strzok, Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments, said: “The extraction of these finds took place under the archaeological supervision of our colleagues from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments. This means that we prevented possible destruction of the site.”

The five axes date from between 1700 and 1300 BC and were likely a ritual deposit of a cult nature, however, the archaeologists haven’t ruled out that the axes could also be a deposit related to trade.

According to the announcement, the objects are tautušiai type axes associated with Baltic cultures from today’s Lithuania or north-eastern Poland. Defined by their considerable size, the axes feature a slim handle with raised edges and a wide blade.

Previous excavations of Bronze Age sites in the region generally find bracelets or breastplates, while the most recent unearthing of a weapon or Bronze Age tool dates back 20 years, highlighting the scarcity of such finds in the region.

The axes are scheduled to be transported to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, where experts will conduct a thorough examination.

Header Image Credit : Stargard Forest District

Archaeology

Mosaic depicting lions found at ancient Prusias ad Hypium

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2023

Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic depicting lions during excavations at ancient Prusias ad Hypium, located in modern-day Konuralp, Turkey.

Prusias ad Hypium was a city in ancient Bithynia which was annexed by the Roman Republic in 74 BC. The city flourished as a significant trading hub, maintaining autonomy in its local governance and even issuing its own currency.

The city was rediscovered during the 19th century, with recent excavations being conducted by the archaeology department of Düzce University under the patronage of the Konuralp Museum, and supported by the Municipality of Düzce.

Excavations indicate that the city exhibits characteristics of a Hellenistic polis. Among the surviving remains are remnants of the city walls, a gate within the fortifications, an open-air theatre, an aqueduct, and a Roman bridge.

A recent archaeological study has focused on the theatre, known locally as the “The Forty Stairs”. The theatre was built during the Hellenistic period (300–30 BC) and was expanded in the Roman period.

The study has uncovered the remains of a mosaic depicting a pair of lions, which was found in a room of the portico in the middle of the theatre axis.

The room has a rectangular shape and is adorned with a mosaic covering the entire floor with a geometric floral pattern. At the centre is a mosaic frame depicting the pair of lions either side of a pine tree. Hanging from the tree is a tympanum (a drum or tambourine), and on the left branch is a pan flute.

According to the researchers, the room was dedicated to the cult of Dionysus. During Dionysian processions, it was common to observe Silenus and maenads participating by playing musical instruments such as the tympanum and pan flute.

Header Image Credit : Konuralp Museum