Archaeologists have discovered a complex of Maya civilization buildings with a history of more than 3,050 years in the jungles of southeastern Mexico. After years of research, they have confirmed that this large-scale site was not simply a place of ritual, but a “cosmic model” designed in accordance with the movements of celestial bodies, reflecting the ancient Maya’s profound understanding of the order of heaven and earth and the concept of time.
According to CNN, the site was discovered by a team led by Professor Takeshi Inomata, an archaeologist at the University of Arizona. Research indicates that this is currently the earliest known and largest Maya architectural complex. Because it was mostly built from earth and closely resembled the natural landscape, it went unnoticed for a long time. It was only in recent years, through optical radar scanning, that its grand scale was revealed.
The center of the site contains a rectangular platform, which is 1.4 kilometers long and about 15 meters high, capable of accommodating thousands of people. Two avenues extend along the east-west and north-south axes, intersecting at the center of the plaza to form a distinct cross-shaped pattern. The research team pointed out that this layout symbolizes the Maya concept of the structure of the universe: “They believed the order of the cosmos was based on the cross, and the flow of time was attached to this structure as well.”
The archaeological team discovered several cross-shaped tunnels beneath the plaza containing exquisite jade artifacts, arranged in the four directions of east, south, west, and north. These jades are of different colors—blue symbolizing the north and green representing the east, presumed to be related to religious rites and directional beliefs. The researchers noted that the main east-west axis directly faces the sunrise at important solar terms in the Maya calendar, suggesting that the complex likely hosted ceremonies on specific days.
The latest research, published in Science Advances, reports that the design of Aguada Fénix not only reflects the Maya community’s symbolic understanding of the cosmos, but also demonstrates the social organization of the time. The team estimates that the main platform alone required about 3.6 million cubic meters of earthwork, equivalent to roughly 10.8 million workdays, inferring that thousands of people would have had to coordinate over a long period to complete it.
Unlike later pyramids or palaces, no signs of social stratification or forced labor have been found within the site. The research team stated that the complex “was most likely built collectively by people in an egalitarian society of their own free will,” symbolizing community unity and a shared pursuit of the cosmic order.
Brown University anthropology professor Houston believes this discovery reveals the foundational idea of early Mesoamerican civilizations “constructing the world through sacred orientation and color symbolism.” It proves that the Maya already incorporated cosmic concepts into urban design more than 3,000 years ago, and stands as a great testament to the union of ancient human spirit and engineering prowess.