CREDIT MAYA/REUTERS
Posted on 10/25/2021 9:16:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Edited on 10/25/2021 6:52:37 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Archaeology experts in Mexico say they have detected the ruins of almost 2,500 pre-Hispanic structures and 80 burial sites along a controversial train route project on the Yucatan peninsula. Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History did not say whether any of the remains were disturbed or destroyed by the Maya Train project, which in some places runs alongside existing rail lines. The finds range from simple stone outlines of thatched pre-Hispanic Maya homes to ceremonial platforms. Potential damage to the environment and archaeological sites are some of the reasons why critics oppose the project. The train is intended to connect Caribbean beach resorts to the peninsula’s interior in a bid to stimulate economic development.
(Excerpt) Read more at knau.org ...
I heard they also detected 1000’s of ruins in detroit too.
Seriously though, pretty cool,about the ancient ruins
This new rail line is intended to be a tourist attraction? Will it be complete with travelling banditos to entertain and lighten the load of the touristas?
When I was there 15 or so years ago we had to ride a chicken bus from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen. The tour bus to Chitzen Itza was much nicer, but the driver had to detour to avoid reported armed robbers on the route. Glad we missed them.
Looks like a lot of places to dump a body, too.
bookmark
Beside the ones above ground?..............
That’s EXACTLY the round-robin trip I wanted to take to explore Mexican ruins. There was, or was supposed to eventually be, a car ferry to run from Tampa to the Yucatan. Would’ve caught that over and probably been immediately kidnapped and held for ransom.
The dreams of youth...
I was in Playa Del Carmen 24 years ago. At that time, there were Army soldiers with machine guns at the Cancun airport entrance.
There was a whole lot of nothing until you got to Playa Del Carmen. We stayed in a hotel just on the north end of town. There were about 5 big resort hotels on the south side of Playa. I understand that has all changed dramatically now.
Sometimes i think that revealing ruins that cannot be protected until uncovered and placed in museums or otherwise protected is just inviting thieves to steal and sell archaeological items on the black market.
I wonder why the archaeologists don’t consider this when these news items are released.
Just some stuff I picked out of the Wiki page for the project...
Oh and...Blackwell and the Chinese are involved in financing parts of this thing. Three of the sections will be managed by the Mexican military. Lot of the gente don’t like it.
If the Mexican gubmint wants them protected, they’d get protected. Or, they want it done, but want someone else to pay for it.
My view is, professional excavation, likely by foreign archaeologists, but a split of the artifacts, under gubmint oversight.
It would mean that looters wouldn’t be cracking intact inscribed stela into incoherent pieces and selling them to private collectors because they can get more from multiple pieces than they can selling them intact. Plus, they can’t move things that big or smuggle them out.
Yes, we saw soldiers there and at the Mexico City airport too. That whole trip i got the feeling the authorities were very concerned about protecting their cash cows—the tourists. The local people were friendly, and I seldom felt in danger (except on the trip to Chitzen Itza). I doubt they feel as protective of the gringos now.
In the old days you couldn't get on Cancun as a Mexican unless you worked there. They did a good job keeping the riff raf out. Yet if you drove to a ruin I guess you're on your own.
“Archaeologists detect thousands of ruins along Mexico’s Maya Train route”
the most stunning part of this is that the Mayan’s had trains!
Y'know, I'm really jealous I didn't post that. :^)
I hate to see any artifacts stolen and sold on the black market. The history lost when the site is plundered just kills me. There for thousands of years and for the sake of a petty criminals spending spree all is lost forever.
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