Tamchen facts for kids

Tamchen 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 amazing find happened at the same time as another nearby city called Lagunita.

What is Tamchen?

Tamchen is the name given to an old city built by the Maya people. The Maya were a very advanced civilization that lived in Mesoamerica (which includes parts of modern-day Mexico and Central America) for thousands of years. They built impressive cities, temples, and pyramids. They also developed a complex writing system, advanced mathematics, and a very accurate calendar.

Where is Tamchen Located?

Tamchen is found deep in the jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. This area was once the heartland of the Maya civilization. The Yucatán Peninsula is known for its dense forests and many ancient ruins, some of which are still being discovered today.

How Was Tamchen Discovered?

The discovery of Tamchen was quite modern! Instead of explorers hacking through the jungle, the team led by Ivan Sprajc used special tools.

Looking from Above: Aerial Photographs

The first step in finding Tamchen involved looking at the area from high above. Researchers reviewed special aerial photographs. These photos were taken from planes or satellites and showed the landscape from a bird's-eye view. By carefully studying these images, they could spot unusual shapes or patterns in the jungle that might suggest ancient ruins hidden beneath the trees. This is how they first noticed signs of Tamchen and Lagunita.

Exploring the Jungle: Ground Expedition

After seeing the possible ruins in the aerial photos, Ivan Sprajc and his team had to go into the dense jungle. This part of the discovery was very challenging. They had to trek through thick vegetation to reach the exact spots identified from the air. Once they arrived, they confirmed that these were indeed the remains of an ancient Maya city. This combination of high-tech aerial views and difficult ground exploration led to the exciting discovery of Tamchen.

Why is Tamchen Important?

Every new discovery of a Maya city like Tamchen helps us learn more about this ancient civilization. It gives archaeologists and historians new clues about how the Maya lived, what their cities looked like, and how they interacted with each other.

Learning About Maya Life

Finding a new city means finding new buildings, plazas, and artifacts. These can tell us about the daily lives of the Maya people who lived there. We can learn about their homes, their religious practices, and even their trade routes. Each new site adds another piece to the giant puzzle of Maya history.

Understanding Maya Cities

The Maya built many cities, but each one was unique. By studying Tamchen, researchers can compare it to other known Maya cities. This helps them understand the different ways Maya cities were designed and how they grew over time. It also helps them learn about the connections between different Maya communities.

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