The popular myth claiming that archaeologists discovered giant skeletons beneath a pyramid at Chichen Itza is a fabrication with no basis in fact. There have been no credible archaeological reports, scientific announcements, or official news from the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirming such a discovery. This story is a classic example of pseudo-archaeology, which often combines a real, mysterious location with a sensational, fictional claim.

The myth of giant human skeletons is a persistent one, frequently circulating on social media and conspiracy theory websites. The images associated with these claims are almost always photoshopped, and the stories lack any verifiable details. The claim that they are 3,000 years old is particularly egregious, as the major structures at Chichen Itza were built by the Maya civilization during the Classic to Postclassic periods, from roughly 600 to 1200 CE, which is a much later period.

However, a very real and incredible discovery has been made beneath the main pyramid, El Castillo (The Temple of Kukulcan), at Chichen Itza. Rather than giants, archaeologists discovered a hidden pyramid inside the pyramid, revealing a layered history of construction. Non-invasive scans have also revealed a large, submerged freshwater cavern, known as a cenote, directly beneath the pyramid’s base. These are the true and verified mysteries of Chichen Itza, which, while not as sensational as a fictional story of giants, are far more compelling and scientifically valuable to our understanding of the ancient Maya.