Xcambó
Xcambó (sometimes Xtampú written) is an archaeological site of the Maya , near the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Yucatán in Mexico .
location
The ruins are located on the Laguna Rosada, just 2 km from the coast of the Caribbean Sea . The town is about 60 km from the southwestern city of Mérida and 35 km from the western port city of Progreso . The nearest town is Telchac Puerto , approx. 6 km east.
history
The Maya site was probably founded in the 1st century AD, but older structures have not yet been uncovered. It is believed that the place lived on fishing and salt extraction; both goods were probably exported to other cities. The buildings of Xcambó were built during the heyday of the Mayan culture (around 500 to 800 AD), and small pottery was imported from the Gulf Coast and possibly even from Guatemala. The excavation work did not begin until the 1980s; they are still going on.
Attractions
The main attractions of Xcambó are grouped around a large square:
- Temple pyramids
- The multi-storey main pyramid with its central staircase has probably been completely preserved; however, there is no trace of the temple. Two smaller pyramids are also in the plaza ; Several large stucco masks were uncovered on the back of one of the pyramids - nothing of the painting that was probably there in the past has been preserved.
- Palaces
- On both sides of the central plaza there are slightly elevated palace complexes ('Acropolis'). The foundation walls of several palace buildings have been preserved.
- Baths
- Two sweat baths framed by stones from the Maya period are sunk in the ground. Huts made of twigs and / or reeds probably rose above it .
- chapel
- The colonial chapel from the 16./17. Century was built on the ruins of a Maya era substructure. It is a simple building about 16 meters long, only half of which is largely closed at the sides; the other part is open at the side. The building has a thatched roof, which rests on an open wooden roof truss. On both sides of the entrance there are two approximately five and a half meters high turrets, the lower part of which - as is usual in Spanish colonial architecture - is completely unstructured and undecorated; the upper area, on the other hand, is three-fold and downgraded. Inside the little church there is a stone altar in front of a simulated (or even integrated) staircase structure.
See also
Web links
Coordinates: 21 ° 18 ′ 55 " N , 89 ° 20 ′ 45" W.