The excavated temple has been through seven phases of enlarging or rebuildings, and excavations are still going on throughout the site. Mitla was the major political and religious centre of the Zapotec Civilisation after Monte Alban was abandoned. Today, only five groups of structures remain, but they are some of the finest ancient ruins in Mexico, if not the world.
There are many complexities within the impressive building designs, but Mitla is most known for the intricate geometric stepped-fret designs throughout the buildings. Its main structure is a two-story palace that is about meters in length, making it the longest in the Puuc region. The best ruins in Mexico are all packed with history and uniqueness, and offer unmatched cultural experiences. Love the pictures! I graded Palenque higher than Chichen Itza in a few categories, but the only problem is that Palenque is so difficult to get to.
My number 1 is still at least in your top 10 Sadly I have only been to a few of the list. Comacalco is unique because it is the only pyramid in Mexico that is made out of red brick. I have unfortunately not visited it yet, but I might do it this October. Templo Mayor is sort of a sour-and-sweet experience in my opinion.
The mortar of the ruins were used to build the catholic church adorning the adjacent Zocalo square. Very interesting and mostly off the radar for most tourists. Great picks! Your email address will not be published.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. Refine Search. You are here Home Maya Ruins Maya Ruins and Archaeological Sites Follow the footsteps of Maya priests, brave Spanish conquistadors, and 19th century adventurers who climbed the very same steps.
Maya Ruins. Displaying 1 - 10 of El Rey Ruins - Cancun. Most people immediately recognize their ancient architectural style, their colorful clothing, and their cuisine. The Maya people contributed to our modern-day calendars, our use of numbers, our systems of government, and much more. They produced incredible pyramids comparable to those in Egypt. They were great decipherers of the stars.
They created their own written language— the only one known of the pre-Columbian Americas. They even gave us hot chocolate! In , many spiritual travelers went batty because the Mayan calendar predicted a new age which some perceived as an apocalypse of some sort starting on December 21 st. Luckily for us all, it turned out that the ancient text might have been misinterpreted.
The Maya had a large, diverse civilization, with dozens of languages, regional distinctions, and elaborate rituals. With each new site you visit, there is more of this history waiting to be discovered.
Best of all, modern Mayan people still occupy these areas, preserving the customs of old and creating new ones to boot. The Maya civilization was beginning to form, via hunter-gatherer groups, as early as BCE. The civilization never exactly unified cohesively, but was more like an assembly of small states. Each had a king, with the stronger cities dominating the weaker ones. Then, the Ancient Maya cities were dramatically and somewhat inexplicably abandoned.
In the Pre-classic period, the Maya mastered agriculture. This was likely due to the cultivation of more productive maize crops and the development of nixtamal , a process that drastically increased its nutritive value. The corn was grouped with beans, squash, peppers, avocados, and tomatoes, to create fields with valuable symbiotic relationships.
Thanks in part to more reliable, stationary nutrition, cities gradually developed during the Classic period. As the civilization hit its stride, people had more time for intellectual pursuits. Science, art, and architecture advanced during this era, as did trade, religion, and social hierarchies. They developed a calendar and writing systems.
They built huge pyramids, vaulted ceilings, and elaborate ball courts. They used advanced techniques with ceramics, mathematics, and astronomy.
At this time, these thriving cities grew considerably, both in size and population. Some historians believe that this growth is what ultimately caused the demise of the ancient Maya civilization. What we do know is that the fall of the great Maya cities was not an immediate occurrence, as would happen with something like a pandemic or natural disaster. The gradual decline took around years. Scholars have cited three factors in the demise, with each having some influence. There was increased warfare, both within the civilization and possibly from outside.
Overpopulation was straining their available resources. And that strain may have exacerbated by a series of droughts, starting around CE. However, it is extremely important to note that this collapse was not the end of the Mayan culture. In these places, millions of Mayans continue to live in small villages, speak their indigenous languages, and uphold ancient religious and agricultural customs.
The civilizations of the Ancient Maya covered a huge sprawl of the Americas, including shrubby drylands, murky swamps, picturesque coastlines, and lush tropical mountains. Still very much hidden by jungle, the gorgeous site features pyramids, a ball court, and, most notably, an Acropolis.
At the top of the Acropolis is the main pyramid of Ek' Balam, which features a massive jaguar mouth Ek Balam means "the black jaguar" , stucco skulls, winged shaman figures, and other decorations.
Known as El Torre, it is one of the largest Mayan structures in the Yucatan, measuring more than feet long and feet wide, with a height of feet. The city functioned for more than 1, years, and today only the center of the city has been excavated. The entire settlement covered around 4. Temple of the Magician, Uxmal. Just outside the city of Merida in the state of Yucatan stands this ancient Mayan city that was once home to 20, people.
The city name translates to "Thrice Built," which refers to its tallest structure, The Pyramid of the Magician, which was built on top of existing pyramids. The city is an important stop on the Ruta Puuc, which is a driving road that connects neighboring Mayan cities. Three related cities are Kabah, Labna, and Sayil. Puuc refers to both a region and a style of architecture. People climbing the ruins at Becan.
If you thought Chichen Itza was impressive, just wait until you feast your eyes on Becan. Located in the state of Campeche, Becan is one of several Mayan sites near Calakmul, and is one of the most impressive, yet thoroughly under visited. The site sits on approximately seven acres, where 20 structures are open to the public. The massive pyramids are what set this site apart, though they allegedly were built for show more than function. Case in point: the presence of many fake stairways and false entrances.
At the time of its height, Becan was a major capital of the Rio Bec province and was one of the many cities that battled Tikal in Guatemala. A moat surrounds the city, and there is evidence of walls and tunnels. Located in the northern part of the state of Campeche, Edzna is a remarkable Mayan site that is far less trafficked than other sites in the region. It is marked by its main temple, which sits on a foot platform, known as the Gran Acropolis.
It also has a ball court, which is still wonderfully preserved. The city was abandoned around the year 1,, but historians believe that it could have been inhabited as early as BC. It is another example of Puuc-style architecture.
Another important structure is the Temple of the Masks, which wasn't uncovered until The building has two masks at its base: one representing the Sunrise God and the other the Sunset God.
Journeying to Yaxchilan is really like stepping into an Indiana Jones adventure. To reach the site on the Usumacinta River in Chiapas requires a colectivo or bus to Frontera Corozal, where travelers can catch a boat to the ruins. You can DIY, but most visitors opt for a tour to alleviate the stress of negotiating boat prices. But the adventurous spirits are rewarded with a truly memorable experience.
The jungle city was once a large settlement that often was at war with nearby Palenque.
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