Archaeologists excavating for Mexico's Maya Train project in the Yucatan peninsula have uncovered a 2,000-year-old limestone sculpture of an elderly man, dating to the Preclassic period (2500 B.C.E.–200 C.E.). The 18-inch tall carving, found at the site of Sierra Papacal near Mérida, once marked the entrance of a west-facing ceremonial structure. The sculpture's flat nose, defined lips, and deep eye sockets symbolize wisdom and respect in Maya culture. It will be transferred to a laboratory for conservation and further study.
The discovery is the latest among thousands of finds from the controversial Maya Train railway network, a 1,000-mile project launched by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador to boost tourism. While the government argues the benefits outweigh the costs, academics, environmentalists, and activists have criticized the project for damaging the environment, local Maya communities, and archaeological sites. The find highlights the tension between development and cultural heritage preservation in Mexico.