A chultún is a type of underground bottle-shaped reservoir used to collect rainwater and is an important element in the architecture of the Mayan civilization. The discovery of one of these compartments inside a building for the first time in the Archaeological Zone of Tulum has sparked great interest among archaeologists.
The find is part of the Program for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones (Promeza), implemented by the Mexican Ministry of Culture through the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
The chultún found in Tulum has a diameter of 2.48 meters and a depth of 2.39 meters. What’s special about this chultún is its location, as it’s inside Building 25, known as Casa del Halach Uinic, a building in the northwest wing, making it the only chultún found inside a building in the archaeological zone, giving it unique value.
José Antonio Reyes Solís, the coordinator of the Promeza Investigation Project in Tulum, mentioned that in the ancient walled city, there are two other chultunes, both located outside.
It is believed they functioned as water collectors; however, the recently discovered chultún seems to have had a different use, as, in addition to being covered and inside a building, it does not show signs of having stored liquids.
Instead, it is believed to have functioned as a storage for food and plants, and later could have had a ritual use.
Enrique Marín Vázquez, the field leader and project member, explained that the chultún has a layer of ground coral 1 to 2 centimeters thick, which is part of the surface soil, and below this layer, red clay was found.
Inside the chultún, medium-sized stones, thick layers of pure ash, and, at the deepest point, human bone remains and burnt stones were found. These elements suggest there were ongoing combustion processes before the chultún’s construction.
The found human remains are under investigation at the Laboratory of Physical Anthropology of the INAH Center in Quintana Roo. It is suspected they could belong to three infants, buried with other materials such as deer antlers, shark teeth, and shell earrings, which would indicate a change in the original use of the underground compartment.
It is also believed there might have been possible looting during the pre-Hispanic or colonial period.
The research project will continue until April 30, 2024. During this period, various maintenance, rehabilitation, and consolidation tasks will be carried out in the archaeological zone, including buildings like Casa del Cenote, Temple of the Wind, and other points of interest.
Additionally, a virtual tour is being developed so that the public can explore the inside of the chultún without needing physical access to the site.
Sources
National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico
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