Massive 3,000-year-old 'blueprint of the Universe' unearthed at ancient Maya complex

A colossal structure unearthed in Mexico is shedding new light on how early Mayan civilizations perceived the mechanics of their world. In this study, archaeologists report that fresh evidence suggests the 3,000-year-old site, named Aguada Fénix, served as a cosmogram: a geometric blueprint of the Universe.

The discovery began with a massive cross-shaped pit (known as a cruciform) concealed beneath thick jungle canopy. Researchers eventually realized this was just one of many structures nested together and linked by a system of canals. The scale is staggering: the total volume of these cruciforms exceeds 3.8 million cubic meters—roughly equivalent to 1,500 Olympic swimming pools or one-and-a-half Great Pyramids of Giza.

Located in what is now Tabasco State on Mexico's Gulf Coast, Aguada Fénix was identified by researchers from the University of Arizona using aerial laser technology.

According to the new findings, colored pigments discovered in the pits—the earliest examples ever found in Mesoamerica—align perfectly with the four cardinal directions. Vivid blue azurite signifies the north, yellow ochre marks the south, green malachite sits in the east, and pearly seashells represent the west.

“The cruciform shapes and colour symbolism encoded in the architecture are the physical embodiment of notions of how the earthly plane was organised, governed by the cardinal directions,” Dr. James A. Doyle, an independent Maya specialist, told BBC Science Focus.

Doyle noted that the canals and dams highlight the practical and symbolic importance of water, a theme further reflected in the blue and green pigment offerings.

A Community Without Kings? Crucially, the research, published in the journal Science Advances, suggests this massive construction was achieved by a non-hierarchical society. Unlike later Maya sites, there is zero evidence of palaces, royal residences, or a central ruling class.

Given the sheer scale of the architecture—described by Doyle as "some of the largest ever built in the region"—experts estimate it took at least 1,000 people carving out bedrock over several years to complete the cosmogram.

The working theory is that these builders were not forced laborers serving an elite, but members of an egalitarian culture. They likely built the space to facilitate mass participation in astronomical observation, calendar keeping, trade, and sacred ceremonies.

The Mystery in Jade Alongside the pigments, the team uncovered various jade sculptures. Most depict animals, reflecting the natural world rather than deities or kings. However, one artifact stands out: a carving that appears to represent a woman giving birth.

Dr. Doyle believes this figure suggests we still have much to learn about social equality at Aguada Fénix.

“What if she had been a powerful ruler, as we know from many later societies in Mesoamerica, the circum-Caribbean Area and the Central Andes?” Doyle asked.

“Surely with more excavation, expanded knowledge about the peoples who built Aguada Fénix, the picture of disparities in the accumulation of goods or influence will become clearer.”