Archaeologists discover ‘never before seen’ pre-Hispanic ruins in Mexico

View of an archaeological site in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico, on June 18, 2026 (Marco Antonio MARTINEZ / AFP)
View of an archaeological site in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico, on June 18, 2026 (Marco Antonio MARTINEZ / AFP)

Mexican archaeologists have unearthed ancient ruins with signs of Mayan culture as well as “never before seen” characteristics in the eastern state of Veracruz.

President Claudia Sheinbaum calls the discovery “very relevant,” saying her government will allocate resources for the investigation and restoration of the site.

The site includes a circular stone platform unlike any other unearthed in that part of Mexico.

Researchers also discovered a monolith depicting a figure with potential Mayan features, the National Institute of Archaeology and History (INAH) says.

“It’s a unique, unprecedented finding,” says Lino Espinoza Garcia, an archaeologist for the INAH and one of the coordinators for the Campo Viejo site near the town of Coatepec.

Dating back to the Early Classic period between 200 and 600 AD, the pre-Hispanic ruins include a flagstone and limestone platform adorned with almost squared lines or figures as well as the circular stones.

These attributes have never been recorded in this region of Mexico, the INAH says.

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