The artefact is the latest archaeological marvel unearthed during the construction of the controversial Maya Train project

The rail network connecting archaeological sites and tourist destinations on the Yucatán peninsula is one of president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s legacy projects

Many organisations, including Unesco, fear the project will negatively affect the region’s cultural heritage, natural environment and residents when it opens in December

The delicately carved choker necklace was found during excavations for the Maya Train project in the Yucatán Peninsula

A skull relief carving hailing from the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá has been repatriated

With first leg of controversial $20bn Maya Train project set to begin operation, authorities have stepped up excavation and development of archaeological destinations

The discovery comes on the heels of the contentious Maya Train development in the area, one section of which was temporarily suspended this week

The announcement follows protests claiming the Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has rushed the development of the touristic train connecting archaeological sites in the Yucatán

The Mexican government is accused of concealing archaelogical findings along 1,500km route of president’s Yucatán mega-project

Indigenous groups have protested against the Maya train line long before archeologists identified artefacts in impact report

With more than 14,000 artefacts discovered in the project's path, protestors say pre-Hispanic heritage sites could be destroyed by the construction