March 26, 2015

Mysterious New Structure Found at the Maya site of El Pilar

Archaeologist Anabel Ford has found a new kind of Maya structure at the site of El Pilar on the Guatemala/Belize border. she is calling “the Citadel.” It shares nothing in common with other Maya structures. The structure was detected by LIDAR. The structure contains concentric terracing and four temples. It is isolated from the rest of the El Pilar site. It is a mystery as to its origins, when it was built and its purpose. Why is it isolated? It could be an early Pre-Classic site or a post-Classic site when defensive fortifications were constructed. The terracing and high location points to a defensive structure.

Popular Archaeology has the report here with great photos;
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/spring-2015/article/archaeologist-discovers-mysterious-ancient-maya-citadel
More on Ford’s work at El Pilar can be found here;
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/09012013/article/seeing-through-the-canopy