Lagunita facts for kids

Lagunita is an ancient Maya city located in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. It was discovered in August 2014 by a team led by Ivan Sprajc. This discovery was made possible by carefully looking at old aerial photographs of the area.

Lagunita had actually been visited before, in the 1970s, by a Swiss archaeologist named Eric Von Euw. He drew pictures of the city's main buildings and other important stone carvings. However, after he left, no one could find the exact spot of Lagunita again until 2013.

Discovering Lagunita

How Lagunita Was Found

In 2014, archaeologist Ivan Sprajc and his team were studying aerial photographs of the Yucatán Peninsula. They were looking for signs of ancient cities hidden in the dense jungle. By carefully examining these pictures, they noticed patterns that suggested old buildings were present. This led them to the discovery of Lagunita, along with another city called Tamchen.

The Mystery of Its Location

Before Sprajc's discovery, Lagunita was a bit of a mystery. Eric Von Euw had explored the site in the 1970s. He made detailed drawings of its impressive structures, including a special building front called a facade. But he didn't record the exact location very clearly. For many years, other archaeologists tried to find Lagunita again, but they couldn't. It remained lost in the jungle until the new aerial surveys.

What Was Lagunita Like?

Lagunita was an important city for the Maya people. It had large buildings and monuments, showing how skilled the Maya were at building and art. The Maya civilization was known for its advanced writing system, mathematics, and impressive architecture. Cities like Lagunita were centers for trade, religion, and daily life.

Why Are Ancient Cities Important?

Finding ancient cities like Lagunita helps us learn more about the past. Archaeologists study these sites to understand how ancient people lived. They learn about their culture, their beliefs, and how their societies were organized. Each new discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of human history.

See also

In Spanish: Lagunita (yacimiento arqueológico) para niños