Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered an ancient monolith with engravings showing elite figures, one of which carries possible Maya-like characteristics, at a salvage site in Coatepec, Veracruz. The National Institute of Anthropology and History, known as INAH, dated the find to the Early Classic period, between 200 and 600 AD.
The carved stone stands 1.88 meters (6.2 ft) tall and reaches 1.47 meters (4.8 ft) at its widest point. Its surface depicts two seated elite figures dressed in elaborate attire, receiving a fluid inside a vessel from a divine entity positioned above them. One of the figures bears features that researchers describe as possibly Maya in nature.
Near the monolith, excavators uncovered a large civic-ceremonial platform measuring 30 meters (98.4 ft) long by 12 meters (39.4 ft) wide. Ancient builders constructed it with limestone slabs and finished the walls with a white, chalky surface, a quality researchers believe was achieved through a controlled firing process.
Its ornamentation includes square-like patterns and circular stones on two of its sides. Neither attribute had been previously documented in the region.
Elite ritual engravings adorn the Veracruz limestone platform
Both finds were in good condition. Conservators applied stabilizing compounds to the sculpture and cleared the surrounding soil to prevent further damage. The platform will require restoration and maintenance work.
During excavations, researchers also found carbonized corn remains, buried ceramic vessels, and a green stone bead broken into four pieces. These items appear to have been placed as offerings near the structure.
All recovered materials will go to a laboratory for further study. An interdisciplinary team under the direction of INAH Veracruz archaeologists Alberto Vázquez Domínguez and Lino Espinoza García is overseeing the process.
Mexico’s ancient monolith discovery raises possible Maya connection
Although the Totonac culture is often linked to communities between the Cazones and Papaloapan rivers, researchers found no indicators of that civilization at the site. They suggest the remains belong to a local culture with characteristics shared by Gulf Coast groups.
The ancient monolith, with its possible Maya-like imagery, is part of broader research Mexico’s INAH has conducted around the Campo Viejo archaeological site since 2000.
Field work at the private 12-hectare (29.7-acre) property, which is slated for residential development, began in late 2025. Excavations are expected to wrap up by mid-August 2026, with material analysis continuing through February 2027.
Mexico’s Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, said that the discovery deepens the country’s understanding of its pre-Hispanic past and highlights why protecting archaeological heritage matters for everyone.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
