Dzibilchaltún

History

It was one of the great urban hubs that flourished in the north of the Yucatán Peninsula and is noted for being one of oldest: some sources confirm its existence from 500 B.C. to 1500 A.D. It spreads over around 17 square kilometers in which there are probably over 8,000 architectonic structures; still, only a few of these have been excavated. At just a few kilometers from the coast, its economy relied heavily on marine products from the Gulf coast, producing salt, making tools from shells and consuming seafood, as well as from inland resources, planting and harvesting corn.

The city conserved 12 sacbés or white roads, the majority of which radiate from the center and lead towards the peripheral structures; one leads to the Xlakáh cenote, which in Mayan means “old town” and from which bone, stone and wood objects were recovered.

The most outstanding building in this zone is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, so called because of an offering found inside of seven clay figurines. A solar phenomenon can be observed through the central door every equinox. There is also the construction of an open chapel whose architecture has great simplicity, where the new religion was taught to the Maya people.

Dzibilchaltún brings together a pre-Hispanic city, an eco-archaeological park and the Museum of the Maya People where a number of regional representative pieces can be seen, as well as the house.