Hool: Archaeology In 21st-Century Mérida Suburb

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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 a complete ecosystem for modern families. 

But even in here, echoes of the ancient Maya past remain, as does evidence of the henequen hacienda boom, which lasted from the 18th to the early 20th century.

A perfect example is San Antonio Hool — or just Hool — whose true name has been lost to time. It flies under most people’s radar on Calle 59, across the street from an Oxxo convenience store. 

Archaeologist José Huchim Herrera, director of Uxmal and the Ruta Puc, suggests that Hool was once as large and important as other regional cities, such as nearby Dzibilchaltún and Komchen. However, by the 9th century, it likely fell under the influence of T’ho or Dzibilchaltún.

Today, evidence of only a handful of ancient constructions remains, and just a single pre-Hispanic complex has undergone archaeological restoration. This will almost certainly remain the case, as homes and businesses now surround the entire area.

The restored complex features a rectangular platform with two tiers, built with large stone retaining walls. The second platform holds the base of a room made from carefully carved stones. Atop this was once a stone structure. Judging by its foundation, it had a vaulted roof in the classic Maya style.

The features of this complex suggest it functioned as a small temple where ceremonies were likely held.

On the western side, a staircase has a row of small columns or a balustrade. Two blocks flank the stairs on each side. The platform surfaces and the interior room floor were originally covered with a fine white stucco.

An extension attached to the main platform is still visible on the southern side. A walkway leads to another platform beside a rectangular altar with a space at its center. This section of the structure has functioned as a steam bath or temazcal, likely used for ceremonial purposes at Hool. 

Other settlements in this zone date to the henequen hacienda era. The Hacienda de San Antonio Hool, for example, still operates today as an events venue.

Just a few hundred meters away from the Hool pre-Hispanic archaeological park, a second Colonial era archaeological park holds remains from a probable 17th or 18th-century livestock estate. These include old corrals and troughs.

An archaeological survey of the property identified 60 pre-Hispanic structures. These included circular and vaulted buildings, artificial terraces, platforms, and mounds that may have been small step pyramids.

These structures were partly dismantled long ago to build surrounding ones, which are now also in ruins but off-limits. The area was likely repurposed because it had useful water features. These included chultunes, or underground cisterns, and shallow reservoirs called sartenejas.

Today, these archaeological remains are part of the urban landscape in Las Americas. This includes the colonial-era “Parque de la Noria.” The suburbs developer, SADASI, does a good job of keeping the sites clean and clear of overgrown vegetation.

Of course, Hool is not the only archaeological site in Mérida; the city has 212 in total. However, only a small fraction are open to the public. Among the best-known and most visited are Chen Hó and Xoclán, which are located within the Yaaxtal archaeobotanical park.

As for the main San Antonio Hool Hacienda just beyond Fraccionamiento Las Americas, it is not open to visitors, but it is still possible to observe much of the structure and its facade through its gates.

With information from José Huchim Herrera