Ancient Maya Murals Restored in Cancún’s San Miguelito Site

Cancún, Mexico — The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the INAH Quintana Roo Center announced the stabilization of mural paintings at one of the structures in the “Conjunto de los Dragones” (Dragon Complex), located in the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone in Cancún. Additionally, INAH revealed the installation of an interactive sandbox at the Museum of the Costa Oriental (Mureco) in Tulum, featuring replicas of pre-Hispanic artifacts to simulate archaeological excavations for visitors.

Conservation Efforts at San Miguelito

The San Miguelito Archaeological Zone, situated in Cancún’s Hotel Zone, includes the Conjunto de los Dragones, named for the discovery decades ago of a stone sculpture resembling a serpent’s head. The complex comprises three small shrines.

The recently restored temple, the northernmost of the three, retains remnants of mural paintings depicting marine themes. The artwork includes zoomorphic figures, likely representing turtles and fish swimming in an aquatic band, reflecting the cultural significance of the ocean to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization of the Costa Oriental.

In April 2025, specialists intervened to stabilize the murals, which had deteriorated due to rain, humidity, wind, and regional heat, compounded by the failing polycarbonate protective cover that allowed rainwater to seep into the plaster.

Under the coordination of Mónica Alejandra López Portillo Guzmán, a restoration expert from the INAH Quintana Roo Center, and with support from independent conservator Claudia Martínez Ávila, the team conducted physical-chemical cleaning to remove microorganisms and consolidated the polychrome plaster where necessary.

Preventive conservation measures included clearing vegetation and cleaning the perimeter and surfaces of the archaeological structure, assisted by site custodians Linda García and Alejandro Arias. Prior to stabilizing the murals, custodians Silverio Arceo and Abelardo Peñaloza helped repair the polycarbonate cover and aluminum frame by realigning displaced panels and reinforcing them with aluminum brackets and screws.

Luis Bermúdez, a student from the Universidad del Caribe completing an academic internship in Alternative Tourism, also participated in the project.

Interactive Sandbox at Mureco

An innovative educational tool—a child-friendly archaeological sandbox—has been installed at Mureco in Tulum. The four-square-meter space accommodates up to 10 users, who can simulate excavations using 15 replicas of vessels and skeletal remains.

The installation was coordinated by Mureco Director Carmen Gaitán Rojo, with support from the Alianza Empresarial Tulum and the INAH Quintana Roo Center, led by Margarito Molina Rendón. The exhibit aims to engage families and tourists in learning about and preserving cultural heritage.