ARCHEOLOGIST SITES

Chichen Itza

Archaeological Center located north of the state of Yucatan belonging to the late classical period and whose splendor coincides with the arrival from central Mexico Toltec warrior.

Its architecture shows this influence in a style harder and sober that maya-puuc predominant in the area. It was an important place of pilgrimage and the sacred cenote were found many offerings and human remains from the sacrifices demanded that the gods.

Among the most emblematic buildings in the city highlights the great pyramid called El Castillo with 91 steps on each of its four sides plus an extra step, which added 365 steps, so many days has the solar calendar.

Other buildings that fill out the ceremonial center are the ballgame, the largest in Mesoamerica, the temple of jaguars with bas-reliefs of this animal, the observatory, which was used to study certain specific stars; the tomb of the great priest, the statue of Chac-mol, the platform of Venus, the wall of skulls.

Uxmal

Archeological Center of the classic late (600-900 AD), located in the Yucatan Peninsula. Its ruins are spread over a vast formed by small hills that were used by builders to get a splendid view of the surroundings. The architectural style of the area is known as the Puuc, which dominates the horizontal line and decorations forming geometric mosaics carved stone.

Emphasize the splendid palaces whose rooms are open to broad and harmonious interior courtyards (home of the nuns), or large squares to be down wide stairs (Governor's Palace). There are also small temples full of pace and the turtles and huge pyramids like the soothsayer.

Palenque

Palenque is a typical ceremonial center of the classic period.

Although there are traces showing that was inhabited from the first century BC It was not until the seventh century living their peak season ending in the ninth century.

In addition to its strategic importance and architectural, this place is nailed in place with a special magic. Among vegetation arise almost mystical forms that invite the traveler to dream of the time when the city was inhabited.

In the pyramid of entries is the tomb of Pacal, the first great king of Palenque whose coffin was covered by a large stone sculpture showing the monarch falling into the jaws of a great monster land but looks to be piloting a ship space, which led to the designation of the astronaut.

Yaxchilan

City archaeological located in the state of Chiapas, on the banks of the Usumacinta River.

Its buildings are erected on a hill and covered by thick vegetation. Situated halfway between Tikal and Palenque was a link between the influences of both cities, which translates into a wide variety of architectural details.

The apogee of Yaxichilán is between the ages VI and IX. The architecture comprises mostly elongated rectangular buildings, one or two rows of rooms, and three doors on the facade.

The top of the facades is very often worked in mosaic stone sculptures with added bulk and motives modeled in stucco.

The architectural style of the Usumacinta and specifically the Yaxichilán, it is very famous for its freedom of expression Bonampac In Bonampak, situated a few kilometers from Yaxichilán, has retained the more complete set of all Mayan monumental painting.

The place is an acropolis with templates located on several hills in front of a square surrounded by three buildings. The structure 1 have been preserved almost intact with their original paintings drawings that relate the different stages of a battle.

The first part represents a magical dance prior to the battle, in the second warriors Bonampak triumph over their opponents and the third is to be tried and executed prisoners.

Tulum

The archaeological center of Tulum on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Ruins correspond to the twelfth to sixteenth centuries, but the founding dates back to at least the sixth century.

Tulum is a rarity among Mesoamerican cities, and that he was completely walled.

The building's most important center is El Castillo, formed by several terraces, stairways and templates ready harmoniously, which retains part of the stucco decoration.

In its environs there are more than 50 buildings as the great palace or temple frescoes, the latter retains paintings that combine themes and forms of manuscripts Maya.

Tikal

The record shows that Tikal was inhabited from the Pre half (900 to 600 BC), although it had its peak between 550 and 950 AD The city was at the heart of the Mayan world between the coast of Campeche and Belize, which may explain its dramatic development.

Its buildings are the highest that the Mayans built, only comparable to the sites of El Mirador.

The major monuments are organized around the large square, although there are numerous groups of buildings scattered through the forest linked by paths and broad avenues that coincide with the Mayan roadways. The acropolis north of 100 x 80 m.

Eight funerary temples bore below which traces have been found dating from the third century BC It is worth noting the presence of twin pyramids comprising two pyramids with stelae, altars and palaces independent surrounding the square and had only commemorative this only repeats in the ruins of Yaxhá.

Ceibal

The Passion River region, unimportant in the classic, had its heyday from 800 and Ceibal was his most important center.

Point between the upland areas and cities of the Yucatan, Ceibal became a gathering strategic trade routes between the high and low lands.

The place was mysteriously abandoned after 900 and left traces as a ballgame, several places and ceremonial buildings and numerous trails that speak of penetration in the area at some cultural traits Mexicans.

Uaxactun

City archaeological located in Guatemala 18 kms north of Tikal.

The excavations conducted by the Carnegie Institute of Washington (1926-1937) have shown that the town was already inhabited in 1500 BC Its most important monuments are huge stone steles with magnificent bas-reliefs, built between 328 and 889 AD In total we have found 49 trails, 26 of which carry the dates of their execution.

Yaxha

Midway between Flores and Belize, a trail leads to Lake Yaxhá. Very near the lake are the ruins of a Mayan city with nine acropolis and five hundred structures.

From the temple 216, square B is enjoying a spectacular view of the lake, the island Topoxté and all the surrounding jungle.

A key difference Yaxhá regard to other Mayan centers: the intricate arrangement of streets and alleys that resemble a distribution classic European city.

Aguateca

Situated on a cliff overlooking the river Petexbatún, in the Peten Guatemala, Aguateca was a fortified city, which only a few trails are kept speaking of kings divinised whose protection is engaged everyone in the place.

One king escudo-tortuga appears in a sculpture dating from the 640, another is the sovereign with hands and feet jaguar. Like everybody southwest of Peten, the city was invaded at the beginning of the century X.

Dos Pilas

Located in the Peten Guatemala, dominated a vast territory because of its strategic position in the side of the river and the river Passion Salinas.

The city was founded by a descendant of a royal lineage of Tikal towards 600. All his successors were devoted to consolidating a military supremacy over the area that was demolished by the defeat in front of the satellite city of Tamarindito at 760.

The two concentric walls built around the palaces were not able to prevent this fall. It is possible to see at present a hieroglyphic stairway unfinished, interrupted in the 700 and burial sites containing the remains of the second sovereign and other rights.

El Mirador

This center dating from the pre recently. Their buildings are very preceding the oldest of Tikal and Uaxactún. Arguably, El Mirador is the first manifestation of the Mayan culture with the elements that have made universally acknowledged.

Some buildings reached sizes surprising for such an early stage, reaching, as is the case of the pyramid Tiger, more than 60 m. Tall. It is here where for the first time there is a magnificence that the Mayans wanted to give their buildings with the aim to recognize the divinities and commemorate the anniversary of their kings.

The arrival to the venue requires a great effort that compensates those who know how to appreciate the value of a place that speaks to us of our origins.

The vision of the archaeological remains is not as spectacular as in Tikal, or as poetic as Palenque. Its ruins have not been restored and vegetation leaves barely intuit more uncertain that forms between the thick, but such is the magic of El Mirador: we have to get the imagination fly and be surrounded by mystery.

Copan

One of the most important Mayan cities of the classical era.

The main body of the ruins is comprised of five major squares and the acropolis, which highlights the two major temples, erected to commemorate an astronomical discovery and the other dedicated to Venus.

In the plaza adjacent to the Acropolis there are trails and several altars and magnificent reliefs.

Other important monuments Copan are: the courtyard of the hieroglyphic stairway, notable for having a staircase with glyphs representing the largest of the Mayan inscriptions, the staircase jaguars, the ballgame and the amphitheater.

Copan was one of the most notable emporiums of Mayan culture specializes in astronomical studies, as is apparent from the numerous trails monoliths and ready for the observation of the movement of the stars.

Altun HaArchaeological Center located in Belize and inhabited since the beginning of the classical period. It was erected at the site several ceremonial buildings and palaces.

About three hundred or four hundred platforms surrounding the center were lifted so many houses and other buildings burial mounds hide and whose graves were found inside a sumptuous utensils. About the eighth century the city was abandoned to be restored for the period post (950-1500 AD)

Xunantunich

Xunantunich is in Belize, near the road linking Flowers to Belize City.

It is a typical compound of the classic period with a central plaza and a pyramid 45 m. In the classic late a quake destroyed part of the city but there are many remnants that scattered through the area, staying in sight of the visitor. Since the main pyramid is enjoying an excellent view of the surrounding jungle.

Iximche

Former capital of the Cakchiquel with which Pedro de Alvarado joined to defeat the armies Quiche in its conquest of flight to Guatemala.

The remains today are visiting ceremonial center of what was once a city of postclásico. There is evidence of human sacrifices have been made since it retains a stone on the sacrifices that were started hearts to the victims.

At this point Alvarado lifted its first stable settlement in Guatemala, after betraying his allies Cakchiquel. For security reasons soon moved to the slopes of the volcano Water, close to the current Antigua Guatemala. Quirigua

Although it is a small place, hides some of the most impressive stelae del Mundo Maya. It's in Guatemalan territory, but close to Copan.

His stage apogee is in the early stages of the classic period. The so-called E wake, erected in 771, is the greatest monument of this type with 10.66 m. In it, the sovereign is represented front and standing on a monster mask or jaguar.