We independently assess all our recommendations. Purchases through our links may earn us a commission.
Lake Atitlan is one of the most tourism destinations in the Central American nation of Guatemala, and with good reason. Atitlan is undoubtedly one of the most stunning lakes in the world. In fact, famous German explorer Alexander von Humboldt called Atitlan “the most beautiful lake in the world” and Aldous Huxley (author of the classic novel Brave New World) strangely called it “too much of a good thing.” Truly, the glassy water reflecting the mountains surrounding Lake Atitlan is an amazing sight to behold. But, beneath the undulating ripples of the lake’s surface, there’s actually a lost Mayan city.
No, I’m not telling any old wives’ tales about a mythical city like Atlantis or El Dorado. For years, rumors circulated about the existence of a lost city hidden beneath Lake Atitlan. However, these rumors were confirmed in 1996 when a diver named Roberto Samayoa and his crew discovered the ruins of the city. He then proceeded to name the city after himself, combining part of his surname with the Mayan word abaj (meaning “stone”). Although naming a lost city after yourself is definitely a questionable move, Samayoa’s discovery led to a full-fledged archaeological investigation of the site which has yielded some fascinating information about the history of the city and its people.
In 2017, UNESCO announced that it would be sending a scientific mission to Samabaj to register it as an official World Heritage Site. However, that mission only commenced as recently as March of 2022. There are several different theories as to how the city sank below the surface of the water. But, regardless, people all over the world are referring to Samabaj as the “Mayan Atlantis”.
The Discovery of Samabaj
In 1994, Roberto Samayoa and his crew found a piece of pottery on the floor of Lake Atitlan that appeared to date back centuries. This gave Samayoa the indication that this piece of pottery might possibly come from a sunken city. After that, he and his crew spent the greater part of the next two years searching for this lost city until, finally, in 1996, they came across the ruins of Samabaj.
The city rests about 20 meters below the water, meaning that the dive was not a particularly difficult one. However, the fact that the site had not been discovered for decades beforehand is a testament to how vast Lake Atitlan is. The lake is just about 130 square-kilometers in area, which means it was very difficult for Samayoa and his team to cover the entire lake.
Not long after its discovery, Samayoa was able to get Samabaj registered as an archaeological site. However, the first major archaeological expedition didn’t place until 2008 and was directed by Guatemalan archaeologist Sonia Medrano. This expedition revealed many different underwater structures, including rectangular bases, bleachers, circular structures, boat mooring tools, and a rectangular structure that was believed to be used for rituals.
The expedition also uncovered pieces of ceramic and stone that have allowed researchers to date the fall of the city to Late Preclassic Maya between 400 BC and 250 AD.
The History of Samabaj
One thing is for certain about Samabaj: it was once above the surface of the water and it’s now below the surface of the water. However, it’s fairly unclear how it got to be that way. Scientists do know that, around 1,700 years ago, the surface of Lake Atitlan used to be about 30 meters lower than it is today. We also know that during this time there was a three-island archipelago near the south bank of Lake Atitlan. Two of these islands were just piles of stones; however, the third island was large enough to build structures on.
Lake Atitlan, however, is very susceptible to level changes due to the fact that it’s an endorheic lake (also known as a sink lake or terminal lake). This means that the lake has no significant outlet; there’s no river flowing out of Lake Atitlan to regulate the level. Instead, the only way that the lake drains is through subsoil filtration. Thus, irregular events like heavy rainfall, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions can all result in significant changes to the lake’s water level.
Any of these events could have potentially caused the level change that submerged Samabaj, particularly because Guatemala is very susceptible to landslides and earthquakes and Lake Atitlan is bordered by three volcanoes (Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro). Still, the exact reason for the rise in the water level that submerged Samabaj is currently unknown.
What Does Samabaj Look Like?
The site of Samabaj covers about 450 meters from north to south and about 300 meters from east to west. The structures that remain at the site, despite having been submerged for over 1,700 years, remain mostly unchanged. So, it’s believed that the water level rose very rapidly.
On the highest point of what was once an island sits a public and ceremonial area. In this area is a structure that’s been named the Closed Square (or the Plaza Cerrada), which is an enclosure with an open space of about 1,500 square-meters. The square is enclosed by many natural rocks, some of which are as tall as two meters. In certain areas, these rocks were fractured to allow access to the square.
Near the Closed Square, there are other square structures and two circular structures that are believed to have been used as steam baths. There were also several areas believed to have been home to residential structures, particularly, because fragments of pottery and other items involved in domestic chores were found in these areas. There is also a total of 18 monuments, including altars and basalt columns.
Due to the high number of structures that are believed to have been public or ceremonial in nature, it’s believed that Samabaj was an important religious site for the Tzutujiles (the most prevalent ethnolinguistic Mayan group in the region). It has been suggested that people from all over the region may have made pilgrimages to Samabaj to perform religious rites.
A Recent Look at Samabaj
In 2022, UNESCO sent an archaeological expedition to Samabaj to conduct a series of experiments to learn more about the site. One of the goals of this expedition was to create a planimetric map of the site so that its layout could be studied without actually getting in the water. The researchers involved in this mission have also made it very clear that all experiments are being conducted in a non-invasive way and a way that respects the cultural heritage of the site.
All of the findings of this expedition have not yet been revealed. However, with the continuing research into this fascinating site, we may one day know what exactly happened to the sunken Mayan city of Samabaj.
