Itzamkanac, also known as El Tigre, was once the great capital of the Maya Acalán-Tixchel region. Today, four of Itzamkanac’s main plazas have been restored and are open to the public, but are seldom visited by tourists. The history of Itzamkanac dates back to the 6th Century B.C.E. and extends all the way to the…

Before angry emails flood in, let’s clarify. The sacred mountain interpretation isn’t wrong; it’s overly stretched. The evidence for mountain symbolism at certain sites, especially among the Mexica at Tenochtitlan and at Postclassic Tlaloc shrines, is strong.  However, calling every stepped pyramid or large structure a “sacred mountain” without specifying which mountain, which deity, which…

Nojpetén holds a special place in Mesoamerican history as one of the last Maya polities to remain independent

The Museo de los Antiguos Mexicanos, which opened in San Pedro Garza García, on the outskirts of Nuevo León, less than a year ago, is the first museum in Nuevo León dedicated entirely to pre-Hispanic archaeology.  This in itself is odd, especially when we consider that Nuevo León is one of the wealthiest states in…

In the religious and cosmological systems of ancient Mesoamerica, the serpent was a central and complex symbol.  Serpents were not simply animals or singular gods. They represented a spectrum of forces, including creation, destruction, rain, fire, and the sky.  One of the most recognized deities in Mesoamerica is the Feathered Serpent. The Maya knew this…

The era of construction at what today is the archaeological site of Kohunlich spanned well over a millennium, kicking off during the 3rd century B.C., and wrapping up sometime during the early post-classic period in the 10th century C.E. The ancient city and its ceremonial center remained active until the 12th century C.E., after which…

The Maya of antiquity are well known for their profound interest in the night sky. This longing for the stars was not merely a scientific pursuit; it was fundamental to make sense of their own existence, the creation and refinement of multiple calendar systems, as well as their religious beliefs and overall cosmology.  The Dresden…

Uxmal is known for the grandeur of its monuments, as well as for its symmetry, intricate mosaics, and many ceremonial plazas. Most famous among these plazas are the quadrangle of the birds, which faces the Grand Pyramid of the Magician, Las Monjas, and El Palomar, which was restored and reopened to the public just a…

As enjoyable as it is to explore the ruins of the Maya city of Río Bec, actually getting there is half the fun—despite the challenge. Though this extraordinary archaeological site is only 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the highway, in the dense jungle of southern Campeche, there is no such thing as a straight line,…

Chunhuhub is an archaeological site that could be described as modest in comparison to several of its contemporaries in the Puuc or Chenes region. Part of this comes down to the fact that much of the site has not been restored, making it hard for non-experts to properly “size it up”. But beyond the size…

The entrance to Zaachila’s Tomb 1 is still covered with its original stucco, geometric Zapotec designs, and traces of color.  If you arrive at the archaeological site of Zaachila knowing nothing about it, you might wonder what makes this place special. The surrounding town in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca is vibrant, home to a…

Chichén Itzá welcomes thousands of tourists every day, yet its museum attracts only a tiny fraction of them. That will change. According to INAH employees who spoke with Yucatán Magazine, the museum complex will become the main access point to the archaeological site beginning in March. Whether this goal is met, however, remains an open…

Last week marked the 478th anniversary of the foundation of Yucatán’s largest city, Mérida.  But as anyone who follows this column — or has any sense — is well aware, the arrival of the Spanish in Yucatán does not mark the beginning of history in the region, but rather a new chapter.  While it is…

The archaeological site of Cobá ranks among the most impressive in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, which is truly saying something. Evidence suggests the city was first settled in the late third century BCE, though it would take another few hundred years for monumental construction at Cobá to begin in earnest. Beyond its striking architecture, several…

Archaeologists have descended on the tiny community of Granada to reunite the town’s two most beloved ancient relics.  These guardians, as some in the community refer to them, are in fact two Maya carved stone monoliths depicting noblemen in the distinctive Oxkintok style.  In 2019, one of these two monoliths was removed from Granada by…