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…

The archaeological site of Iximche is located in the western highlands of Guatemala. It was once the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya kingdom in the late Postclassic period. Like Mixco Viejo, Iximche provides important information about the final era of independent Maya states of the highlands of Guatemala, as well as their first contact with…

For information on our Central Mexico tour in February, CLICK HERE! Mérida’s northernmost major suburb, Fraccionamiento Las Americas, is the city’s largest 21st-century development, somewhere between the Periferico and the coast. This sprawling middle-class area is known for its uniform residential architecture and has its own schools, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, and entertainment spots. It’s…

An archaeological site of the Maya culture; Xtogil’s ancient past is known to few, even though one of its cenotes has become a modest tourist attraction due to its proximity to Chichén Itzá.  Today, Xtogil is covered in vegetation and remains virtually untouched by archaeologists, except for a research project that uncovered a dozen burials,…

Because Chichén Itzá is so full of amazing structures, and the fact that most tourists to the site only explore its central core, temples like El Osario (The Ossuary) often don’t get much attention.  The most obvious observation often made about El Osario is that it bears a resemblance to the Temple of Kukulkán, though…

One of the most immediately identifiable features of Maya architecture is the corbel arch. Corbel arches are not exclusive to the Maya or even to Mesoamerica; they can also be found in regions such as Southeast Asia and the Hellenistic world. But without a doubt, it was the Maya who pushed this architectural form to…

In the outskirts of Oaxaca’s capital city, lies San José del Mogote, an archaeological site that challenges just about everything we think we know about Mesoamerica. A contemporary of the ancient Olmecs, this Zapotec ceremonial center was founded around 1500 BCE and is remarkable not only for its antiquity but for its role as a…

Located near the north of Mérida’s Municipal limits, Dzibilchaltún is best known for its famous Temple of the Seven Dolls, to the point that this structure and the site have almost become synonymous. But Dzibilchaltún is full of other archaeological gems, which tell a story that began roughly 300 v years ago and continues to…

Colima’s culture thrived in what today is the Mexican state of the same name, and its surrounding territories, and is known almost exclusively for one thing: their adorable ceramic effigies of hairless dogs. But from thriving cities to other types of artistic expression, there is much more to these ancient people.  This region is characterized…

The Edzná archaeological site’s old museum was little more than a palapa tightly packed with stelae. It had its charm, but it lacked much in the way of actual museography.  Over the summer, INAH opened a new and much-improved museum and visitor center at Edzná.  The only downside to this trend towards more sophisticated onsite…

With its soaring pyramids, empires, and grand stone cities, Mesoamerica commands the spotlight when it comes to ancient North America. Yet, further north still, cradled within a vast and arid landscape, another complex world flourished: Oasisamerica. This cultural superarea, straddling the modern border between the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, was not a monolithic…