Archaeologists led by Ivan Šprajc identified a network of ancient Maya marketplaces in the jungles of southeastern Mexico, especially in Campeche. Airborne LiDAR scans revealed about 50 complexes with a distinctive concentric layout dating to the Classic Maya period (250–900 AD). Many more sites are likely still undiscovered. The pattern of low, elongated platforms organized in rings or rectangles indicates structured trading hubs rather than ceremonial or residential spaces. This may represent the oldest known market network of the Maya civilization.

The newly mapped complexes display “nested” arrangements of low platforms. Researchers believe these once supported stalls made of perishable materials such as wood and palm leaves. Clear pedestrian pathways and internal corridors point to multi-layered market spaces comparable to those encountered by early colonists and described in early Mesoamerican colonial chronicles. The sequential arrangement and orientation of these features, along with limited entrances documented at some sites, suggest intentional control over access. This may have facilitated tax collection and other administrative oversight.

The architecture bears a strong resemblance to marketplace interpretations at established Maya sites. Notably, the East Plaza of Tikal in Guatemala and the Chiik Nahb complex of Calakmul in Mexico show similar patterns. Murals and hieroglyphic inscriptions at those sites have reinforced the view that such spaces functioned as centers of exchange.

Location choices appear strategic. Many sites sit along major movement corridors, near reliable water sources, or inside larger urban centers. High-density areas could reflect environmental constraints, the need to bring in and redistribute agricultural produce, or proximity to extractive zones for commodities and raw materials. At several locations, altars, shrines, or adjacent ceremonial buildings indicate a close pairing of commerce and ritual. Large attached buildings that abut or overlook the platform rings may have served as storage facilities or as administrative quarters for market officials, reinforcing oversight and logistics.