Archaeologists in Mexico have launched a new research and conservation project after discovering the skeletal remains of a possible ancient woman and a separate concentration of Maya ceramics deep within Cenote Yaakun, a flooded sinkhole near Playa del Carmen.
The woman, provisionally named Yatzil, meaning “beloved person” in Maya, was named after the cenote itself, whose name carries the same meaning. Researchers say the discovery offers a rare opportunity to study an undisturbed underwater archaeological context while highlighting the importance of protecting fragile submerged heritage sites.
Mexico’s Ministry of Culture announced that the project is being led by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) through its Sub-directorate of Underwater Archaeology (SAS), following reports from local custodians and technical divers who identified cultural remains in the cenote in late 2025.
“Every archaeological find we manage to protect through community collaboration strengthens our knowledge of the cultures that inhabited this territory and reaffirms that heritage is a shared responsibility,” said Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza. “Scientific research and social participation are fundamental to preserving these contexts intact and passing them on to future generations.”
Initial fieldwork involved five days of technical diving at depths between 42 and 53 metres. Underwater archaeologist Gustavo García García documented two distinct archaeological areas separated by approximately 30 metres: one containing human skeletal remains and another with ceramic vessels.
Photogrammetric surveys carried out during the expedition enabled researchers to map both areas in detail, leading to the formal creation of the Cenote Yaakun Research Project, which has since been authorised by the INAH Archaeology Council.
The initiative focuses not only on scientific investigation but also on long-term conservation. Protective measures include establishing exclusion zones around the archaeological deposits and working closely with landowners and diving operators to discourage visitors from handling, removing or damaging artefacts.
Researchers say the site’s custodians have played a vital role in safeguarding the remains and proposed the name Yatzil for the individual.
Beyond a dense cloud of hydrogen sulphide, Cenote Yaakun descends to more than 80 metres, where a sloping chamber contains the archaeological material. The skeletal remains, together with animal bones, lie between 42 and 46 metres below the surface, while three globular ceramic vessels—one complete and two fragmented—rest at depths of up to 53 metres.
“Several elements remain in their original positions, although some fragments of the skull had been displaced,” García García said. “This underlines the fragility of underwater archaeological contexts. Our objective is to preserve the site in situ and encourage both the local community and diving groups to help protect it.”
During the first field season, archaeologists deliberately left the human remains undisturbed, recovering only a single ceramic fragment for laboratory analysis.
Preliminary examination suggests the pottery belongs to the East Coast Maya tradition and may date to the Late Postclassic period, between AD 1200 and 1521, although further study is required to confirm its age.
Physical anthropologist Salvador Isab Estrada identified several skeletal elements, including portions of the arms, legs, pelvis and lower jaw. Three molars remain intact, while patterns of tooth wear and the loss of a premolar indicate the individual was likely a young adult woman aged between 18 and 25 years.
Researchers say it’s too early to judge the woman’s cultural identity or the age of the remains. Those questions could be addressed during a later field season in 2027 in which scientists would like to retrieve a tooth sample for ancient DNA analysis.
The remains have survived in exceptional condition thanks to the cenote’s stable underwater environment, including constant temperature, limited light and significant depth. They say preserving the site without altering its original context is the priority of this project, so future scientific analysis can be performed using more advanced analytical techniques.
Header Image Credit : PDC Gustavo García SAS INAH
Sources : INAH
