Conservation is being carried out on the ruins of a large Mayan palace that was discovered in Mexico in the north-east of Yucatán, 100 miles west of Cancún. It is over 1000 years old, and it is hoped that it, and neighbouring areas of discovery, will ultimately become a natural attraction for visitors to the region.
The ancient building in the archaeological zone of Kulubá appears to be comprised of six rooms, and it is 55 metres long, 15 metres wide and six metres high. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is overseeing the examination of the site by specialists in archaeology and restoration. It believed that the building has seen two phases of occupation: one in the late classical period (600–900 AD) and another in the terminal classical period (850–1050 AD). It is also believed that the city of Chichén Itzá controlled Kulubá in the past.
The conservation specialists are simultaneously working on other areas of interest in the wider complex, including a building called the Temple of the U, which has carved stones and is covered with a layer of stucco that resembles the letter "U." Archaeologists have so far uncovered two residential rooms, an altar and a large round oven, as well as remains from a burial site. Future physical anthropology examinations will allow them to determine the sex, age and habits of these Mayan individuals.
In terms of conservation, one option being considered is to use vegetation to protect the delicate structures, by reforesting specific sites for trees to protect them from direct sunlight, wind and other elements.
