During the construction of the Maya Train in Section 7, near Kohunlich in Quintana Roo, Mexico, archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) discovered seven elite Petén-style structures. These findings were made during roadworks intended for access to the Nicolás Bravo/Kohunlich station.
Kohunlich, a significant Maya polity first settled around 200 BCE, served as a regional center along southern Yucatán trade routes. Most of its notable monuments were constructed between CE 250 and 600 during the Early Classic Period. The city is known for its elevated platforms, plazas, pyramids, and citadels, all designed to direct drainage into a sophisticated network of cisterns and a massive reservoir for rainwater collection.
The recent discoveries include seven structures believed to be elite homesteads used for domestic and agricultural activities. These structures, identified as residential units, exhibit rectangular plans with vaulted rooms and decorative Petén style elements, characteristic of the period between CE 300 and 1000. Archaeologist Ramón Carrillo Sánchez, coordinator of Section 7 stated that the structures are associated with elite family groups possibly linked to the ancient city of Kohunlich.
Among the remarkable artifacts uncovered is a crescent-shaped conch pectoral with four figures, described by Carrillo Sánchez as a rare find with only a few known examples across the Maya region. This object likely belonged to a high-ranking individual and may have been offered during construction as a symbol of continuity.
The INAH has taken measures to preserve five of the seven structures in situ. Manuel Pérez Rivas, the academic responsible for the archaeological salvage project, reported that these structures are currently undergoing restoration and consolidation to be accessible to the public. Two structures have been sealed for future research.
The excavation also yielded various archaeological materials, including ceramics, lithics, shells, and human bone fragments. Enrique Nalda’s research, noted by Carrillo Sánchez, previously identified Kohunlich as a large settlement with ceremonial and residential complexes, some serving as elite family neighborhoods.
These discoveries have challenged previous assumptions that the peripheries of large Maya cities were primarily agricultural zones.
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