Researcher Cleared in Maya Train Dispute With INAH

Quintana Roo, Mexico — A prolonged and public conflict within Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Quintana Roo has reached a resolution. The dispute, which pitted the local INAH director against a veteran researcher over criticisms of the Maya Train project, ended with the researcher being absolved of administrative charges.

The animosity between Margarito Molina Rendón, head of INAH-Quintana Roo, and researcher Fernando Cortés de Brasdefer escalated in May 2023. Molina Rendón initiated administrative processes against Cortés de Brasdefer, a 45-year institution veteran and active union member, for allegedly spreading criticism about the Maya Train.

The criticism was outlined in a document titled “Chronicle of a Destruction Foretold.” In it, Cortés de Brasdefer, who has held union representation roles for the state, denounced that the works on Section 7 of the Maya Train were causing massive destruction of archaeological structures due to a rush to meet political deadlines.

This “forbidden text,” disseminated on social media and some news outlets, described an “archaeological apocalypse” in that section. Molina Rendón considered that it damaged the credibility and honor of INAH and initiated the administrative processes against the researcher for disseminating documents, violating the law, and “putting the lives of INAH personnel at risk.”

Cortés de Brasdefer, in turn, denounced Molina Rendón before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for restricting his freedom of expression and undertaking political persecution. While Molina defended the official archaeological “salvage” efforts, Cortés de Brasdefer maintained that INAH allowed the mutilation of vestiges to avoid delaying the railway work.

The feud became a formal legal matter in February 2024 when the archaeologist filed a denunciation against Molina Rendón with Human Rights authorities for harassment and workplace persecution.

A central point of the dispute was a clash over “archaeological salvage.” Molina defended institutional protocols, while Cortés de Brasdefer criticized the removal and reconstruction of monuments at sites like the Balam Tun Memory Park, which he described as an alteration of the original context. He directly questioned Molina for prioritizing the political interests of the Maya Train over cultural heritage protection.

Cortés de Brasdefer accused the official of “political revenge” and workplace harassment, alleging a persecution campaign in retaliation for his public criticism and an attempt to dismiss him for denouncing the destruction of vestiges. He also questioned the technical validity of projects like Balam Tun Memory Park, arguing that relocating and reconstructing monuments outside their original context is a form of covert destruction endorsed by INAH.

Furthermore, he accused Molina of acting under orders rather than as a protector of the law, by allowing the Maya Train construction to destroy hundreds of Mayan housing structures and platforms to meet deadlines.

With over 30 years of work at the Chakanbakán archaeological site, Cortés de Brasdefer also criticized the historical lack of budget and attention to archaeological zones in the south of the state, an administrative responsibility of the INAH Center directed by Molina Rendón.

An ideological gap also existed regarding INAH’s operation: Molina implements a policy of “archaeological salvage” for rapid recovery in the face of civil works, while Cortés de Brasdefer defends traditional academic research archaeology, generating constant friction in project approvals.

The conflict culminated on March 4, when the Responsibilities Area of the Internal Control Body of INAH, headed by Blanca Patricia Rodríguez, declared Cortés de Brasdefer NOT responsible for the non-serious administrative offense imputed to him.

Margarito Molina Rendón’s management as INAH director has faced several points of tension, including a shortage of specialized personnel for rescue work, aggravated by the demands of the Maya Train project. In August 2025, INAH staff protested in the Tulum archaeological zone over alleged usurpation of functions by external entities and disagreements over ticket collection.

Molina has publicly admitted that the speed of certain works has caused the destruction of archaeological monuments that “could not be preserved in time.” Frictions have also been reported over the installation of irregular toll booths by ejido members at entrances to archaeological zones.

A report by journalist Graciela Machuca Martínez states that the archaeologist’s critical document was originally intended for internal circulation but was leaked to the press. The then-national director of INAH, Diego Prieto Hernández, dismissed it in August 2023, arguing it lacked technical support and that the “salvage” was the largest and most modern in history.

Molina, director of the INAH Quintana Roo Center since January 2019, became fully involved in the conflict on May 2, 2023. On August 18 of that year, INAH formally notified Cortés de Brasdefer of the proceedings, accusing him of disseminating institutional information without authorization, lack of probity and honesty, and damaging the Institute’s image.

The case generated international condemnation from organizations like the World Archaeological Congress and INAH researchers’ unions, who demanded an end to workplace harassment, arguing it violated academic freedom and the ethical duty to protect heritage.

According to Cortés de Brasdefer and other critics, the Maya Train “salvage” presented regulatory irregularities, such as using heavy machinery like backhoes in areas with vestiges, contravening manual excavation protocols. They also cited the prioritization of clearing railway lines over scientific research, the destruction of “albarradas” and smaller residential structures, and the release of sections without in-depth analysis of findings.

After months of administrative litigation and pressure from scientific communities, the process against Cortés de Brasdefer did not result in dismissal or serious sanction.

Fernando Cortés de Brasdefer is an archaeologist-researcher with a doctorate, attached to INAH Quintana Roo for over 45 years, during which he served as a delegate and member of the Council of Archaeology. He has documented and denounced the destruction of at least 200 archaeological remains during the construction of Section 7 of the Maya Train and is recognized for over 30 years of work at Chakanbakán.

The general secretary of the researchers’ union, Alberto Juan Herrera Muñoz, coordinated the legal defense. Support also came from other groups, including the National Union of Restorers of INAH, which issued public statements demanding an end to censorship, harassment, and repression. The unions argued that attempts to sanction Cortés de Brasdefer set a dangerous precedent violating academic freedom and the right to report damage to national heritage.