INAH and CINDAQ Formalize Partnership to Protect Mexico's Underwater Heritage

The Quintana Roo Aquifer System Research Center (CINDAQ) and Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have established a formal agreement aimed at improving the research, documentation, and preservation of archaeological sites located in caves, cenotes, and other aquatic environments. This partnership formalizes over 20 years of collaboration into a structured alliance, utilizing skills in underwater archaeology, cave exploration, and digital documentation. The INAH's Underwater Archaeology Department will use this agreement to advance studies on submerged cultural artifacts and difficult-to-access sites. Roberto Junco Sánchez, the department's head, noted that this agreement reflects a foundation of years of cooperative fieldwork and trust. CINDAQ has played a crucial role in uncovering the region's aquifer systems, abundant in Mayan relics and human remains, and aims to enhance joint efforts and data sharing while safeguarding these vulnerable underwater heritage sites from tourism and development pressures.