During archaeological works at Chichen Itza, Mexico, scientists discovered the sculpted head of an ancient warrior wearing a helmet shaped like a feathered serpent with open jaws.

The anthropomorphic sculpture was unearthed at Chichanchob, “the largest and best preserved of the four buildings that surround the plaza or main plain. Chichanchob translates as “small holes” from the Mayan chi’ich’ichan, meaning “small”, and ch’ob, “hole”, perhaps because of the small holes in its raised crest. It’s also commonly known as Red House “Casa Colorada”, because of a strip painted in red inside the vestibule or first bay.” 1

Credit: INAH

The ancient may have once been part of a larger sculptural design. The feathered serpent was one of the most important gods in Mesoamerica. The Aztecs called him Quetzalcoatl, and the ancient Maya called him Kukulkan. The K’iche’ group of Maya named him Gukumatz.

Today, deserted and in ruins, Chichen Itza, which translates to “at the mouth of the well of the Itza,” was one of the most important and largest ancient Maya cities. The true identity of the god Kukulkan is challenging to determine, mainly due to the confusing references to a man who bore the name of the Mayan god. Because of this, the distinction between the two has become blurred.

Around the 10th century, a priest or ruler appeared in Chichen Itza. This sacred site was one of the most significant Mayan centers of the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico, where we find El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan.

Kukulkan has his origins among the Maya of the Classic Period, (200 AD to 1000) when he was known as Waxaklahun Ubah Kan, the War Serpent.

By 600 A.D., Chichen Itza covered almost four square miles with densely packed commercial, residential, and other structures made of stone. At its height, it is believed that as many as 50,000 people lived in Chichen Itza.

The Casa Colorada area where the sculpture was found during excavation work. Credit: INAH

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reports the unearthed sculpture is about 1,00o-year-old, which means it is from the earliest period of habitation of Chichén Itzá. INAH archaeologists say in a press statement the ancient sculpture is 13 inches (33 centimeters) tall and 11 inches (28 cm) wide, and aside from a crack, it is still well-preserved.

Credit: INAH

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Diego Prieto Hernández, described the head as a “very interesting find.” “It was customary to represent warriors with a headdress, with a kind of helmet,” he said. “In this case it is a snake figure from which the face of this character emerges, and a feathered headdress, so it is probably alluding to Kukulcán, the feathered serpent of the Maya.”

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The excavations are part of an archaeological rescue project carried out in its conclusive phase in the works of the Mayan Train.

“As of Nov. 9, Prieto Hernández said that archaeological salvage work on the seven sections of the Maya Train had recovered 57,146 building structures, 1,925 movable artifacts, 660 human burials and 2,252 natural features associated with human settlements.