Since the site first opened in 1997, the only section open to visitors was its main staircase. That is, until roughly a month ago.

Pakal II, also known as Palak the Great, is one of the most recognizable figures in Mesoamerican history, but this has little to do with his military prowess.  Pakal II is, without a doubt, the most famous member of the K’inich dynasty, which is itself one of the most storied lineages in Maya history. But…

The recent presentation of a book published by INAH, authored by archaeologists Eduardo Huchim and Alexander Voss, has sent shockwaves through the scientific community.  The publication titled Lluvia y Tierra, La Estela 18 de Uxmal, details how Stele 18 was discovered in 2022 and provides a detailed account of its interpretation. The discovery came after…

The name Anahuacalli translates from the Nahua languages as “Home of the Anáhuac,” a term that itself means “surrounded by water.” The Anahuacalli Museum, located in the far south of Mexico City, stands as a singular monument to Mexican art and culture.  Conceived by the muralist Diego Rivera, the Anahuacalli is a contemporary structure that…

In many ways, Yaxunah is a prototypical Maya regional capital; however, several aspects make it unique, for example the Popol Nah.

The Museo de Arqueología Maya del Camino Real de Hecelchakán is home to an impressive number of Maya artifacts.

Acanmul is one of the most splendid off-the-radar archaeological sites on the Yucatán Peninsula.  Though it is not exactly remote, being just twenty-five kilometers northeast of the modern city of San Francisco de Campeche, it is by no means easy to get to, but more on that later.  Unlike the extensively restored ruins of Uxmal…

The archaeological site of Oxmul is known to very few, but within its necropolis and temples lie keys to a better understanding of the past of what is today Mérida. 

Does Mesoamerican really exist? The answer: it’s complicated.

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…