Archaeological excavations carried out by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in the town of El Tigre, formerly known as Itzamkanak, have led to the discovery of an unknown circular structure that is 800 to 1,000 years old.
Located on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, El Tigre was an ancient Mayan capital from 1000 to 1200 AD.
According to the INAH websiteScientists have determined that the recently excavated structure had sacred significance and was most likely dedicated to the worship of Kukulkan, one of the most important deities in Mayan mythology and religion.
This deity, which resembles the Aztec wind god Quetzalcoatl, played a crucial role in the belief system of this ancient civilization.
Remarkably, the origins of the Kukulkan cult are linked to the famous city of Chichen Itza, also located on the Yucatan Peninsula. This ancient religious practice extended over a wide geographic area, encompassing present-day Guatemala and Belize.
Archaeological research and dating of the structure indicate an age of approximately 800 to 1,000 years, implying that it was built before the arrival of Europeans in the region.
It is worth noting that European historical accounts also mention the cult of Kukulkan, along with temples dedicated to the four major Mayan gods.
