Groundbreaking Maya Research Takes Center Stage at Yucatán’s Ichkaantijoo Conference

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From Dec. 8 to 12, 2025, the Centro INAH Yucatán will host the annual Ichkaantijoo Archaeology Conference, drawing archaeologists, anthropologists, epigraphers, and heritage specialists from Mexico and around the world to share their research.

The theme of this year’s conference is titled “The Maya: Recent Investigations in the Yucatán Peninsula.” The Ichkaantijoo conference is named after what for decades was considered to be the pre-Hispanic name of Mérida, but now is considered to be the true name of Dzibilchaltún.

The Ichkaantijoo Maya Culture Symposium is organized by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and coordinated by researchers Ángel Góngora Salas and Ileana Ancona Aragón. This year’s conference promises a comprehensive look at the very latest discoveries shaking up the field.

With 59 papers scheduled across 13 thematic blocks, the symposium will serve as the year’s definitive snapshot of archaeological progress in the region. Specialists from institutions across Campeche, Guanajuato, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, and Yucatán will share their findings. 

The sessions will delve into everything from regional archaeology and site-specific studies to specialized analyses of ceramic materials, architectural research, and the complex interplay of Maya power and migration through epigraphy.

A highlight of the 2025 edition will be the recognition of esteemed archaeologist Tomás Gallareta Negrón, who will be honored for his lifetime of contributions. Fittingly, he will also deliver the opening keynote lecture on December 8th, focusing on architecture, geography, and society in the northern sector of the Puuc region.

Beyond the lectures, the event is designed to be an immersive experience. Attendees can participate in hands-on workshops on lithics, malacology, epigraphy, and zooarchaeology. The cultural side of Maya life will be celebrated through a photographic exhibit titled “Maya Women Celebrating,” an exhibition of renders depicting “Maya Cities and Towns of Northern Yucatán,” and a display of ceramic art.

The daily paper presentations will feature compelling new research. The schedule includes explorations of the hydraulic landscape in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, the enduring history of the community of Nunkiní, a comparative study of the atlatl spear-thrower weapon at Chichén Itzá, and new spatial analyses of architectural groups at Oxkintok. 

The symposium will conclude on December 12th with a detailed presentation on the history and reconstruction of the famed Temple of the Seven Dolls at Dzibilchaltún.

Also participating will be Yucatán Magazine’s senior editor, Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, who will present, along with Zackary Lindsey, findings relevant to the archaeological site of Xcatzmil in southern Mérida conducted with non-intrusive technologies, including photogrammetry and LIDAR. 

By blending rigorous academic presentations with cultural exhibits and practical workshops, the 2025 Ichkaantijoo Symposium aims to be more than just a conference; it’s a vibrant, five-day hub for sharing the cutting-edge work that continues to redefine our understanding of the ancient Maya world.

If you go

All talks and workshops will be presented in Spanish. Visit https://simposioichkaantijoo.org/.