Ancient City of Uxmal
Uxmal
Mexico · Yucatán
In brief
Uxmal is one of the important Maya cities of the Puuc region. Its main structures include the Pyramid of the Magician and palace buildings with elaborate stone decoration; archaeological research has also revealed advanced rainwater storage systems.
What was found?
- 1Stele with reliefs on both faces
Both faces of the stone monument found in its original position in Patio Hundido in 2022 are carved. According to researchers, a female divine being is depicted on the north face and a male divine being on the south face.
- 2Architectural sculptures depicting Chaac
Sculptures on ceremonial buildings depict the rain god Chaac. They show the prominent place of religious symbols associated with rain in the city's architecture.
- 3Chultun cisterns
These underground storage facilities were excavated to collect and store rainwater. They document a technical response to water management in an environment with limited surface water.
- 4Pyramid of the Magician
A large pyramidal structure dominating the ceremonial center. Together with the decorated buildings around it, it illustrates Uxmal's monumental architectural layout.
What does it point to?
At Uxmal, depictions of the rain god and water-storage structures reveal the importance of water in both belief and everyday life. The placement of buildings indicates astronomical knowledge, while the stele found in its original position allows religious imagery to be studied in its spatial context.
What did it teach us?
- Documented the collection and storage of rainwater in underground reservoirs in Maya urban life.
- Showed that astronomical knowledge was used in the placement of monumental buildings.
- According to researchers, the stele found in 2022 documented female and male divine imagery on the two faces of the same monument in its original position.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
In 2022, work at Patio Hundido uncovered a stele in its original position, with female and male divine figures on opposite sides.
Record
- Culture
- Maya
- Team / historical
- José Huchim Herrera; National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)
- Coordinates
- 20.3593°, -89.7704°
Sources
- whc.unesco.org
- inah.gob.mx
- unesco.org
- INAH — İki yüzü kabartmalı stel, 2022 tarihli bülten
- INAH — Uxmal’ın belgelenmesi ve chultunlar, 2024 tarihli bülten
Nearby excavations
- Chichen Itza 130 km
- Calakmul 251 km
- Tikal 349 km
- Palenque 400 km
- Copan 618 km
- Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site 728 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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Arkeoloji Dergisi ↗
All excavation sites (385)
Türkiye
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- Assos
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- Çayönü
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