MEXICO CITY: Previously unknown ancient Maya city has been discovered in jungles of southern Mexico, country's anthropology institute said, adding it was likely an important centre more than thousand years ago.

City includes large pyramid-like buildings, stone columns, three plazas with "Imposing buildings" and other structures arranged in almost-concentric circles, INAH institute said.

INAH said city, which it has named Ocomtun-meaning "Stone column" in Yucatec Maya language would have been an important centre for peninsula's central lowland region between 250 and 1000 AD.

It is located in Balamku ecological reserve on country's Yucatan Peninsula and was discovered during search of largely unexplored stretch of jungle larger than Luxembourg.

Maya civilisation, known for its advanced mathematical calendars, spanned southeast Mexico and parts of Central America. Widespread political collapse led to its decline centuries before arrival of Spanish conquistadors, whose military campaigns saw last stronghold fall in late 17th century.

Site probably declined around 800 to 1000 AD judging from materials extracted from buildings and this was likely reflection of "Ideological and population changes" that led to collapse of Maya societies in that region by 10th century.