TWO ancient Mayan cities found in the Mexican jungle after three thousand years hidden from humanity

A team from the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts found the ancient cities in April

T he two cities of Lagunita and Tamchen on the Yucatan peninsula were found by examining aerial photographs of the region

According to researchers the two cities reached their heyday in the Late and Terminal Classic periods of 600-1000 AD

Researchers believe that there could be dozens more ancient cities in the region which have not been discovered



Archaeologists have found two ancient Mayan cities hidden in the jungle of southeastern Mexico, and the lead researcher says he believes there are 'dozens' more to be found in the region.



Ivan Sprajc, associate professor at the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, said his team found the ancient cities in April.

They made the startling discovery of the two cities of Lagunita and Tamchen on the Yucatan peninsula by examining aerial photographs of the region.

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Ancient: The remains of a monument in an ancient Mayan city in Lagunita May 30, 2014 is surrounded by trees in the Mexican jungle Ruins: Archaeologists found the ruins of a hidden city which could date back to 600-1000AD Industrious: A chultun can be seen here, it was used as an underground chamber for the collection of rainwater in Tamchen Sprajc said the two cities reached their heyday in the Late and Terminal Classic periods (600-1000 AD).

At each site, researchers found palace-like buildings, pyramids and plazas. One of the pyramids is almost 20 meters (65 feet) high.



They also found a facade featuring a monster-mouth doorway, which probably marked one of the main entrances to the center of the city.

Photographs from the sites showed stone pyramids jutting out from beneath dense foliage.

Location: The hidden cities are located in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Campeche, in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula and Yucatan jungle

This image shows a piece of a stela from an ancient Mayan city in Lagunita May 17, 2014 it was a piece of stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerary or commemorative purposes

Ancient: These Stele or stela featured in many ancient communities including Egypt and were found in the ancient Mayan cities of Lagunita, left, and Tamchen in May 2014

Remains: The remains of the monster mouth doorway at Lagunita which has the eye of the earth monster and fangs along the doorway jamb is pictured here after it was uncovered on May 30, 2014

Sprajc said his team mapped 10-12 hectares (25-30 acres) at each site, but the cities were probably larger.



'We elaborated a map but only of the religious and administrative centers of the two sites,' he said, 'that's only like downtown.'



His team has not yet excavated the sites.



'There are dozens of sites that I already have seen on the aerial photographs,' he added, noting that additional discoveries depend on further funding.



Last summer, Sprajc discovered another ancient Mayan city, Chactun, 10 km (6 miles) north of Lagunita and 6 km (4 miles) northwest of Tamchen.