Researchers of the National Institute of Anthropology and
History (INAH) study a Prehispanic monticule known as Structure
12, at San Claudio Archaeological Zone in Tabasco, which may
have had been used as an astronomical observatory to register
the Sun movements at solstices when this city was dwelled by
Maya people, between the first centuries of the Common Era to
year 900. According to archaeologist Jose Luis Romero Rivera,
director of the INAH project at the site located in Tenosique
municipality, Structure 12 is a 2.5 meters high base, with other
2 bases slightly tallest at the north and south extremes. It is
probable that people accessed the structures by the esplanade or
central yard. It is a stone construction with batter walls and
rounded corners resembling the Peten style but of smaller
dimensions. Other unique feature is its orientation: all
structures present an 11 degrees deviation to the northeast,
while number 12 is deviated by 25°; the difference allows us to
assume it had an astronomical funct