Pre-Hispanic meliponary discovered during Tren Maya construction

Archaeologists have discovered a pre-Hispanic meliponary, a site for raising stingless bees, during salvage operations for the Tren Maya project in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Located near the Aktun Chen Natural Park in Tulum, the discovery provides significant insight into the organization of the ‘solar maya’—a domestic space where ancient Maya families integrated housing, agriculture, and resource management.

The structure, identified as T5_23001, measures approximately 19.5 meters long, 3.9 meters wide, and 1.2 meters high. Built with limestone masonry, the site is believed to have been used to house ‘jobones’ (hollow logs) for bee rearing. Researchers also recovered 40 limestone and coral stone discs, measuring between 10 and 20 centimeters in diameter, which may have served as covers for the bee habitats.

Experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) suggest the site likely dates to the Late Postclassic period, between 1200 and 1521 AD. The find was part of a larger complex that included foundations, residential or storage spaces, and a ceremonial shrine, illustrating how the Maya managed diverse activities such as corn and bean cultivation alongside honey production.