The Secrets Within Dzibilchaltún’s Structure 36

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 this day, as Dzibilchaltún is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the Americas. 

Today, we will focus on Structure 36, the stelae found within, and how its legacy has helped to reshape the story of Dzibilchaltún. 

The Design of Dzibilchaltún’s Structure 36

The first thing visitors to Dzibilchaltún likely notice about Structure 36 is its size. Although not the largest at the site, this pyramid-like structure sits in the center of the central plaza and remains scalable to this day, offering some great views. 

The temple has undergone at least five construction periods, the oldest likely dating to a period near the city’s foundation during the pre-classic period. The restored Structure 36 visible today is made up of five structural layers in the Tablero Talud style. This form of architecture has its formal origins in Teotihuacán (near Mexico City) but likely precedes even the great city of Teotihuacán itself, though the jury is still out.  

Though from the front, Structure 36 appears to be a lone construction, walking around its perimeter reveals that smaller structures surround it and likely served as a ceremonial center complex in its own right. 

Within the Temple

But as compelling as Dzibilchaltún’s Structure 36 appears on the outside, it’s when delving into its interior that things begin to get even more interesting. For starters, within Structure 36, Stelae 19, one of Dzibilchaltún’s most important artifacts, was found. 

Stelae 19 is a limestone slab with sculptural relief and a column of glyphs, depicting the ruler Uk’uw Chan Chak in profile. This ruler is rendered wearing a headdress in the shape of a supernatural bird, holding a scepter bearing the image of the lightning god, K’awil — with its distinctive foot that transforms into a serpent — and a circular shield. Among the glyphs accompanying his image, the one that gives the site its name stands out. The glyph has been deciphered as Ch’iy Chan Ti’Ho’, translating to “The five that grow in the mouth of the sky.”

Uk’uw Chan Chak’s name evokes the concept of the four sky-bearers, each called a Bacab or Pahuatún, associated with one of the cardinal directions and the center of the universe.

Among the texts deciphered on the Stelae regarding Uk’uw Chan Chak is the title Lord of the Kaans of Jo. This is important because it contributes to the growing consensus that the true name of Dzibilchaltún was, in fact, Ichkantijo (many variations of the exact spelling exist), a name that was previously exclusively associated with the ancient city that sits where downtown Mérida exists today. 

Though Stelae 19 is today on display at Dzibilchaltún’s on-site museum, a replica has been placed within Structure 36 in two separate sections, as archaeologists first found it.

The Plot Thickens

This theory that Ichkantijo was, in fact, Dzibilchaltún is further bolstered by the discovery of Lord Uk’uw Chan Chak’s burial within Temple 42, which again includes an intrinsically carved deer bone bearing the glyph for Ichkantijo.

Following this logic, the name of ancient Mérida is not usually referred to as Jó or Hó, and it’s considered likely that for much of its history, especially during the classic period, it was a vassal to the true Ichkantijo, the city we today call Dzibilchaltún.

Though one could argue this evidence is circumstantial, Structure 36, Stelae 19 found within its bowels, and the nearby burial of Lord Uk’uw Chan Chak have given us a lot to think about. 

Research at Dzibilchaltún is always ongoing, and the interior chambers of massive complexes like Structure 46 remain a mystery. Who knows, in a few years, this entire article may be obsolete, but that is part of what makes archaeology so fascinating. 

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If you want to explore Dzibilchaltún beyond just the highlights, why not visit us? If you are interested, please email us at: carlos.rosado@gmail.com