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ARCHEOLOGY
PALENQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE:
Located just 8 km (5 mi) from the town Santo Domingo of Palenque, it is one of the main Mayan archaeological sites and a delightful destination for ecotourism enthusiasts. The name that the Spanish people gave to this town means “estocada” to protect a site. The first report that talk about this site says that this town have a name that means “site to war or land to battle”. Here, paths cutting through the jungle lead to various temples and the gorgeous Montiepa waterfalls, where over time, curious figures have taken shape in the rock formations.

With more than 200 structures of different sizes and complexity, and totally adapted to the region’s topography, Palenque is unquestionably one of the most important Mayan archaeological sites. This place offers splendid ruins and beautiful sculptures and inscriptions dating back to the Classic period (400 - 700 AD). It is remarkable because of its beautiful sculptural art, built by the Mayans in the late classic period (600 - 900 A.D.) The highest splendor of Palenque was reached during the reign of Pakal or Sun Shield, who governed between 615 and 683. His eldest son Chan-Bahlum or Serpent Jaguar succeeded him.

This site is located in the magnificent backdrop of the verdant jungle hills and considered by UNESCO as a Historical Patrimony of Humanity.

Open daily from 08:00 to 18:00.

The most important constructions are:

Templo de las Inscripciones (Temple of the Inscriptions): This is the third structure on the eastern end. It gets its name from the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the large panels that can be seen in the temple’s entrance. They narrate the history of King Pakal, his ancestors, and their relationship to ancient Mayan gods. In 1952, archaeologist Alberto Ruiz discovered a stairway that leads to a chamber, where he came across the tomb and funerary furnishings of King Pakal.

La Cripta (The Crypt): Located beneath the Temple of Inscriptions. To view the crypt, which lies about 1.5 meters (5 feet) below the surface, you’ll need to descend the stairs. When the tomb was discovered, archaeologists noticed that the last six steps formed a platform that was filled with offerings and a collective burial.

El Palacio (The Palace): This group of buildings was built on an artificial platform that measures 80 by 100 meters (264 by 330 feet). The most notable construction is a four-sided tower with an interior column and a spiral staircase on the southwest side. It is the only construction of its kind built during the Classic period (400 - 700 AD). The three-tiered tower has an intermediary layer and a wide courtyard that encircles the main column. On the exterior, the walls are thick rectangular rubblework with large windows on each level. The walls and the staircases have stucco relieves, pictorial ornaments and hieroglyphs.

El Templo de la Cruz (Temple of the Cross): Located on the northern end of Plaza del Sol, here you’ll be able to see tombs, a monolith dubbed La Muerta (which depicts a person standing on a hieroglyph), two stone tablets with inscriptions, and 18 clay cylinders representing deities. One of the main characteristics of this edifice is that it doesn’t have a façade, thus it allows you to see the main wall inside.

El Templo de la Cruz Foliada (Temple of the Foliated Cross): Constructed atop the Cerro de Miramar (Miramar Hill), which lies north of Plaza del Sol, it has a battlement that surrounds the main wall and the indoor courtyard. Inside you’ll find three rooms; in the sanctum you’ll see a frieze with stucco fragments and three tombstones that form part of the Tablero de la Cruz Foliada (a cross with corn husks.)

El Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun): Located at the western end of Plaza del Sol. In the sanctum of this structure you’ll see three limestone tablets depicting the image of the sun-shield king and beautifully carved narrative inscriptions. The main stucco frieze has the image of a person sitting down with a two-headed serpent in the background.

 

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