The Maya Train construction project has been ongoing since 2020, with the goal of connecting historical sites in the Yucatan and boosting tourism. The first section opened in December 2024. Over the years, the controversial project has unearthed thousands of archaeological objects and sites along the railway’s 1,000-mile-long route.
As reported in Artnet News, the latest find is a 2,000-year-old limestone face carving, discovered by archaeologists in Sierra Papacal, near Mérida, the capital of the Yucatan state. The discovery was made during construction of the Mérida-Progreso Railway Bypass, which is part of the Maya Train’s freight infrastructure.
Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has been overseeing the archaeological component of the project. In a statement released on November 10, the INAH revealed details about the carving and the environment in which is was found.
The face’s features—”deep-set eye sockets, a flat nose, and lips marked by a cleft that also emphasizes the chin”—suggest that the face belongs to “an elderly man.” The INAH statement describes that when the 18-inch-tall carving was uncovered, it was attached to the remains of the foundation of a building with an ovoid floor plan and an entrance facing west, to maximize sunlight. “This placement is not accidental; it was specifically positioned as a marker or entrance to the enclosure, which was treated with respect upon entering, indicating that the space was not used for domestic activities,” the INAH statement added.
The INAH team is recording and excavating 15 other structures in this area, all within a mile or so of the limestone head. It, along with other discoveries, will be transported to the project’s laboratory for conservation and analysis.
