North of the city of Veracruz, just outside of the town of Papantla, you’ll find the mysterious and fascinating archaeological ruins of El Tajin. This large ancient complex, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, is believed to have once been a ceremonial and administrative center that peaked sometime between 600 and 1200 AD; its construction has been attributed to a tribe related to the Maya.
Game courts feature heavily here—over a dozen have been discovered already, and recent technological advances in imaging, which use lasers to scan underground structures, have revealed more ball courts lying underground, reinforcing the theory that El Tajin was an important ceremonial center.
These recent finds, reported in the news, are an exciting development for the site, which remains one of the most mysterious ancient cities in Mexico. If you’re traveling in the state of Veracruz along Mexico’s Gulf coast, a visit to El Tajin is a very worthwhile experience. Learn more about the El Tajin and find directions about how to get there.
See Also: Archaeology Sites in Mexico and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico
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