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…
The ruins of the ancient city of Teotihuacán are among the largest and most impressive in the world. But like at most major sites, visitors limit themselves to checking out the highlights or sprinting for that iconic selfie. If you are reading this, chances are you are already well aware of the Pyramid of the…
In the delegación (borough) of Xochimilco at the southern point of Mexico City, is Cuahilama, a steep and all too often overlooked hill that holds some of the greatest symbols of power in Mesoamerica. Xochimilco is of course, first and foremost known for its colorful trajineras, flat-bottom boats that take visitors on tours of what…
Within Chichén Itzá, the Cenote Sagrado (Sacred Cenote) stands as one of Mesoamerica’s most enigmatic and revered natural wonders. Unlike most other cenotes, this vast, water-filled sinkhole was not used as a water source — it was a sacred portal to Xibalba, the Maya underworld, and a focal point of ritual offerings and ceremonies. This…
Meaning “place of reeds” in Yucatec Maya, Aké Yucatan is 32 kilometers / 20 miles from Mérida in the municipality of Tixkokob. Just a few years ago, the dirt road and overgrown vegetation leading to Aké made the trek rough for most vehicles and their paint jobs. Thankfully, there is now a proper road, and…
Recent excavations and conservation efforts at Ek Balam (from the Yucatec-Maya Jaguar Star) have brought renewed attention to several of its most impressive structures. These include the ancient city’s main ballcourt complex, the so-called twin houses, a series of recently restored structures along jungle paths, and its towering Acropolis, featuring the breathtaking stucco artworks that…
Visitors to museums in the Maya world often find themselves drawn to strange, intricately flaked stone artifacts known as Maya Eccentrics. These small, meticulously crafted, and shaped into twisting serpents, crouching deities, and abstract geometric forms, were not ordinary tools made of obsidian, chert, or jade. Instead, they are believed to be sacred instruments of…
Xcaret, the privately operated theme park near Playa del Carmen, has recently made significant investments in the Maya archaeological monuments on its grounds. While Xcaret markets itself as an immersive experience into Maya heritage, the site—originally the ancient port city of Polé — has undergone extensive reconstruction over the years. Aside from being beautiful, the…
Beyond the areas where most tourists venture in Chichén Itzá, lies a lesser-known but fascinating architectural complex dedicated to the ruler: K’inich Janaab’ Pakal. No, not the legendary Pakal the Great of Palenque — this is a different king whose legacy is etched into the red-painted walls of the enigmatic Casa Colorada. This structure, also…
The Maya civilization, renowned for its sophisticated understanding of astronomy, developed a precise system of celestial observation that deeply influenced their cosmology, religion, and daily life. Building upon the astronomical foundations laid by the Olmec, the Maya refined and expanded this knowledge, creating one of the most precise calendar systems in the ancient world. Their…
The multi-generational conflict between the Mayan cities of Tikal and Calakmul, referred to as the “Star Wars,” was a series of intense political and military struggles during the later centuries of the Classic Period (250–900 CE). These wars were not just between Calakmul and Tikal but involved a network of alliances and proxy conflicts with…
Xcunyá is a community of roughly 1,000 people, though this is likely to change as developers have begun marketing the community for both residential and commercial use.
The Mexican state of Yucatán is home to some of the most famous and most visited Mayan archaeological sites in Mesoamerica. But aside from the perpetually tourist-packed Chichén Itzá or the grand capital of the Puuc, Uxmal, dozens of lesser-visited sites offer a more off-the-beaten-path experience ideal for travelers keen on adventure. Chacmultún Meaning “red…
Long before the rise of the towering pyramids of Chichén Itzá or the sprawling city-states of the Classic Maya, the pre-Maya Yucatán Peninsula was a land of wandering hunters, coastal foragers, and early farmers whose stories have been slowly pieced together by archaeologists. These ancient peoples left behind faint but tantalizing clues about their lives…
Loché’s history is deeply intertwined with the ancient Maya civilization. The comisaría (administrative subdivision) of Panabá sits atop layers of Maya ruins. Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have uncovered numerous ceramic artifacts and three burial sites containing skeletal remains dating between 300 BCE and 250 CE. These findings are interesting…
Who were the Aztecs, where did they come from, and why do we still call them Aztecs today?
There is something profound about standing atop Tikal’s famed Temple IV as the first light of dawn breaks over the jungle canopy. A sunrise expedition to Tikal, Guatemala’s most iconic archaeological site, is more than just another tour — it’s an experience that stays with you. But things do not start there, and like anything…
In the Ateneo Peninsular, the new Tren Maya Museum showcases archaeological artifacts recovered during the construction of the Maya train. Though this new museum comprises three good-sized exhibition rooms, it takes up just a fraction of Mérida’s grand Ateneo Peninsular, which is adjacent to the Cathedral and across from the Plaza Grande. It is also…
The ancient Maya city of El Naranjo, or Wak Kab’nal as it is known in Mayan, holds a special place in the imagination of those passionate about Mesoamerican history, art, and architecture and the legacy of its most famous ruler, Lady Six Sky. Another reason for its allure is that, despite its status as one…
Until recently, the ancient city of Ichkabal remained hidden under thick vegetation in the lush jungles of southern Quintana Roo, Mexico. Now an archaeological site open to the public, Ichkabal has received plenty of attention in the national media, with countless headlines hailing it the “new Chichén Itzá.” Part of the fascination with Ichkabal is…
The grandeur of Teotihuacán is hard to overstate, and it’s easy to see why the famed Aztecs thought the great city lay at center of the universe
The ancient Mayan city of Oxkintok is usually overshadowed by Uxmal when it comes to visitors’ attention to the Puuc region. There is no denying the splendor of Uxmal, but Okintok is no slouch, and its size and influence over its region beginning in the 4th century C.E. are imposing. The first thing to consider…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now