The refuge of the Lakandon-Ch’ol, a Maya group that resisted the Spanish conquest for over a century (16th–17th century), has been identified.
Archaeologists in Mexico have identified the lost city of Sak-Bahlán, known as the “Land of the White Jaguar,” as reported by Live Science.
It was the refuge of the Lakandon-Ch’ol, a Maya group that resisted the Spanish conquest for over a century (16th–17th century).
After the fall of their capital, Lacan-Tun, in 1586, the Lakandon-Ch’ol retreated into the jungle and founded Sak-Bahlán. The city persisted until 1695, when it was discovered by an expedition led by the Spanish friar Pedro de la Concepción. The conquistadors later renamed it Nuestra Señora de Dolores (“Our Lady of Sorrows”). By 1721, it had already been abandoned.
Archaeologist Josuhé Lozada Toledo (INAH, Mexico) used historical documents, particularly the letters of Friar Diego de Rivas from 1695 and 1698. He also employed geographic analysis tools (GIS) and calculations of the actual distances traveled by the Spanish in the territory. This approach helped narrow down the search area.
Current location: The remains of Sak-Bahlán were found near the Jataté and Ixcán rivers, on the border between Mexico and Guatemala.
Two excavation and mapping campaigns have already been conducted. Studies at the site will continue to precisely date the occupation and deepen historical understanding. The results will be published in the journal Chicomoztoc.