Slovenian Team Uncovers Major Mayan City in Mexico

A team led by Slovenian archaeologist Dr. Ivan Šprajc discovered the extensive Mayan city of El Yesal within the Balam Kú biosphere reserve in the Mexican state of Campeche.

The find occurred shortly after the exploration of the nearby Mayan settlement of Minanbé and was conducted under the auspices of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. Funding for the project came from Slovenia’s ARIS agency, as well as contributions from several Slovenian companies and the Milwaukee Audubon Society.

El Yesal spans over one square kilometer, though it had not been officially registered as a site before this research. Researchers initially identified the city's scale using LiDAR scans. They employed photogrammetry to reconstruct a damaged stele revealing an image of a ruler holding a staff-like object and wearing a headdress depicting the Mayan god of lightning.

The site features a rectangular acropolis with 150-meter sides rising 15 meters above the surrounding terrain, including four pyramids reaching 27 meters in height. Preliminary findings suggest the acropolis and adjacent structures were built between 600 and 250 BCE, with the city occupied for at least another 1500 years.