MEXICO CITY.- A team from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has successfully stabilized a fragment of ancient mural painting in the Dragon Complex of the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone in Cancún. For years, the northernmost of the three small sanctuaries in this complex has displayed traces of a vivid sea-themed fresco—complete with turtle- and fish-like forms—yet exposure to rain, humidity and wind had left its painted plaster dangerously weakened. In April, specialists led by INAH-Quintana Roo conservator Mónica López Portillo Guzmán, together with independent restorer Claudia Martínez Ávila, cleaned away microbial growth and consolidated loose polychrome layers with careful physical-chemical treatments, ensuring the artwork’s survival.

Prior to beginning conservation, custodians Silverio Arceo and Abelardo Peñaloza—joined by tourism student intern Luis Bermúdez—repaired the site’s protective polycarbonate roof. By realigning displaced panels, reinforcing aluminum supports and sealing gaps, they prevented further rainwater infiltration that had been accelerating the mural’s deterioration. Meanwhile, site guards Linda García and Alejandro Arias cleared vegetation and debris around the structure’s perimeter, a simple but vital preventive measure that protects both the building and its fragile decorations.

The Dragon Complex takes its name from a stone sculpture shaped like a serpent’s head discovered there decades ago. Built during the Late Postclassic period (1200–1550 CE), San Miguelito formed part of the Ecab chiefdom that thrived along Mexico’s eastern coast, where fishing, salt and honey production underpinned daily life. The ocean theme of the restored mural reflects the Maya’s deep bond with the sea—a bond that echoed through their myths and commerce alike.

San Miguelito occupies 50 architectural remains—16 of which have now been restored—and has yielded 47 pre-Hispanic burials since archaeologists first recorded the site in 1974. Its best-known monument, the Palace of Chaak, and its Dragon Complex nearby may even have served as astronomical observation posts, underscoring the Maya’s scientific as well as artistic achievements. In recent years, the INAH Quintana Roo Center has marshaled financial and technical support to safeguard San Miguelito’s heritage, reaffirming its commitment to protect this window into Mexico’s storied past.