In a discovery that is reshaping our understanding of early Mesoamerican cultures, archaeologists have uncovered a colossal prehistoric structure in Mexico that served as a massive cosmogram—a geometric representation of the universe. The 3,000-year-old site, known as Aguada Fénix, offers unprecedented insight into how the ancient Maya perceived the world around them.
A Monumental Undertaking in the Jungle
Located on Mexico's Gulf Coast in the present-day state of Tabasco, the enormous site was identified using advanced airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) technology by a research team from the University of Arizona. What they found was staggering. The central feature is a large cross-shaped pit, or cruciform, which is just one part of a complex of interconnected structures linked by a network of canals.
The scale of the construction is almost unimaginable. The combined volume of these cruciforms exceeds 3.8 million cubic metres. To put that into perspective, it is roughly equivalent to the volume of more than 1,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or nearly one-and-a-half times the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Symbolism of the Cardinal Directions
A key finding that points to the site's purpose as a cosmogram is the discovery of specific pigments corresponding to the four cardinal directions. These are believed to be the oldest-known examples of such directional colour symbolism in all of Mesoamerica.
Bright blue azurite marked the north, yellow ochre the south, green malachite the east, and pearly seashells represented the west. This intricate colour coding was a physical map of the Maya cosmos.
Dr. James A Doyle, an independent Maya specialist, explained the significance to BBC Science Focus, stating, "The cruciform shapes and colour symbolism encoded in the architecture are the physical embodiment of notions of how the earthly plane was organised, governed by the cardinal directions." He further emphasized the importance of water, highlighted by the dams and canals, which held both practical and deep symbolic meaning for the builders.
A Society Built on Cooperation, Not Kings
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the Aguada Fénix discovery, detailed in research published in Science Advances, is the evidence pointing to its construction by a non-hierarchical, egalitarian society. Unlike later Maya cities famed for their powerful kings and elaborate palaces, archaeologists found no evidence of centralised ruling classes, tombs for elites, or royal residences at this early site.
This suggests that the monumental task of building Aguada Fénix was a communal effort. Doyle estimated that at least 1,000 workers would have laboured for several years to carve the bedrock into this grand cosmogram. The motivation was likely not the glorification of a ruler, but a shared interest in communal rituals, astronomical observations, and keeping their calendar.
This theory is further supported by the artefacts uncovered. Among the finds were jade sculptures, most depicting animals. However, one particularly intriguing piece appears to show a woman giving birth. Rather than celebrating gods or deified rulers, these figures seem to reflect natural events and everyday life, offering a rare glimpse into the values of this early society.
Dr. Doyle posed a thought-provoking question about the "jade woman," asking, "What if she had been a strong leader, as we know from many later societies in Mesoamerica?" He concluded that continued excavation at Aguada Fénix will undoubtedly provide a clearer picture of social dynamics and equality in this formative period of Maya history.
