C A M P E C H E

In Campeche, south of the Puuc hills, a distinctive style exists known as the Rio Bec or Chenes style of Maya architecture. The Bec River style features the use of twin towers with thatched temples on top, while the Chenes style is characterized by its profuse decoration of facades with fantastic stone masks. These styles have taken ornamentation and simple delusion to great extremes. In this form of construction functionality has given way to form or effect. It is thought that the builders could not complete spectacular pyramid buildings such as Tikal, so they simply built facades. For example the pyramids of Becan were built only for effect. The stairs up are impossible to walk on and the "buildings" at the summits are solid and have no rooms. So even to the Maya architects, it appears that "size did matter".

BALAMKU - Balamku or Balam Ku means "House of the Jaguar" in Mayan. It is an early Maya city, was rediscovered in 1991 in the jungles northwest of Chicanna and Becan in the state of Campeche, Mexico. You will see extraordinary artwork there. The central plaza is encircled with buildings, one of which contains a recently exposed painted stucco facade. Covering its two-story surface is an ornately carved seated jaguar flanked by two large monster masks; two ferocious serpents erupt from the mouths of each mask. Some of the new excavations have uncovered elaborate frescoes carved into the walls of preclassic temples. The original red paint is still visible. Balamku is one of the sites currently under reconstruction and some areas are not open to the public.

BECAN - Means "The Road of the Serpent" in Mayan. Becán was an active city for a very long period of time. Dates as early as 600 B.C. and as late as 1450 A.D. have been identified. The ruins are linked with Chicanná one mile away, and Xpuhil, four miles away, and is easily reached by car. The site covers some 63 acres, although the entire site boundaries are still undefined. This archaeological site was built from carved limestone. Becan represented an important political and military control place, and is considered the capital of the Rio Bec region. The core area of Becán is ringed by a moat and there are remains of a wall, in some places almost 11 feet high. The formation of the ditch and protective wall is very rare in the Maya civilization. This man-made ditch is slightly over one mile long and was constructed in the late pre-Classic between 100 and 250 A.D., without doubt for purely defensive purposes. The town had seven gateways which were part of the sacbé system of roads. The site's highest, most massive buildings lie inside its core area. One is almost 100 feet high. Outside the defensive wall are a large number of smaller constructions. Becán is characterized by monumental structures grouped around grand plazas.

Becán reached its peak between 600 and 1000 A.D., after which the population slowly declined until about 1450 A.D., when it was deserted. Becán is currently undergoing new archaeological excavation and restoration.

CALAKMUL - Calakmul is located in the state of Campeche, Mexico just north of the Petén region, and is somewhat difficult to reach. It is located north of El Mirador and south of Balamkú. Calakmul is one of the largest Maya cities from the late pre-Classic and Classic and may soon take its place in the ranks Tikal and Caracol as one of the most important Maya sites. It is distinguished by its at least 106 engraved stelae, which is the largest number found at any known site. Most of the stelae depict luxuriantly attired personages, probably local rulers, standing on top of prisoners. They also have calendar glyphs that show dates between 500 and 850 A.D. This site, in its golden age was an important regional capital, sprawls over an area of approximately 42 square mile, where 6,750 structures of various types have been located. Among these there are two acropolis, a ball court, and numerous temples and pyramids including one of the largest monuments in the entire Maya area. Recent investigations there have led to the finding of a tomb with rich offerings. Archaeologists also have discovered the remains of high-ranking captives, providing further evidence of Calakmul's power and influence. The site is located in the vast Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, one of the last of the Yucatan rainforests.

CHICANNA - Means " House of the snake's jaws" in Mayan. Chicanná is located near the site of Becán and is reachable by car. While it is a close neighbor to Becán the architecture at the two sites is quite distinct. The site is a good example of a blend Chenes and the Bec River styles and is known for its elaborate stone architecture. Chicanná features facades that portray the gaping jaws of Itzamná, the chief deity of the Maya pantheon in the form of the "Earth Monster". The doorway is his great mouth, through which the high priests entered the Maya underworld and out of which they emerged transfigured by the encounter. On each side of the door itself are the gaping fangs of the serpent. The facade of another structure also retains vestiges of a portrayal of large fangs, while on the shrine atop it there are jutting stone masks with huge twisted snouts.

The earliest occupation of dates from the period known as the Late Pre-Classic (300 B.C. to 250 A.D.). The cultural peak at Chicanná is in the Late Classic (550 to 700 A.D.). Chicanná appears to have been inhabited up to about 1100 A.D. and appears to have been dependent on the much larger city of Becán for much of its existence.

DZIBILNOCAC - Dzibilnocac means "Painted Vault or House" or "Great Painted Turtle" in Mayan. The ruins are located near the town of Iturbide in northern Campeche. The site existed from 600 B.C.-1100 A.D. The ruins cover an area of a little more that 1.3 square kilometers.

The site is of the Chenes style of architecture and is located in a dense tropical forest. The ruins are considered minor in nature when compared with the larger ruins located nearby.

EDZNA- Means "House of the Grimace" in Mayan (also Etzná). The southernmost of the Puuc sites it can be reached by car and is only a one hour drive from the city of Campeche. The site is best known for its five-storied structure which is a combined pyramid and palace. The first four floors contain all types of rooms, while on the top floor is a temple. Another structure is the Temple of Masks, garnished with depiction's of the sun god in his rising and setting phases.

Edzna is surrounded by a complex system of canals and reservoirs, and a square, fortress-like structure is encompassed by a moat. While most of what one sees at Edzná is Late Classic in date, it is noteworthy that at least some of the canals go back to the Late Preclassic." Edzná was the most important place in mid-Campeche in the late Classic. Over 200 constructions were erected in that time, in an area of 10 square miles. In most cases the new structures were built over those from the late pre-Classic. Several stelae found here show Long-Count dates between 672 and 810 A.D.

HOCHOB - Hochob is located in the Chenes Region in the central part of Campeche half way between the coast and the border of Quintana Roo. Hochob as a ceremonial was active from around 100 B.C. to 1100 A.D. The site is thought to have flourished around 800 A.D. Located on a hill the upper part of the ruins are nearly flat. It is probably for this reason that the name Hochob means "Place of the Corn Stalks" in Mayan. This highest part of the hill is no higher than 90 feet and is about 600 feet by 150 feet creating a rectangle. It appears that dirt was filled in to create the flat surface for the constructions. Hochob consists of one group of buildings divided in three plazas. The buildings are finished with fine detail but much restoration needs to be completed.

XPUJIL - Xpujil means "Place of the Cattails" in Mayan. It is a small site near Becán, in Campeche and was named by members of the fourth Carnegie Expedition to Campeche, who "discovered" the site in 1938. The ruins typify a beautiful example of the Rio Bec style, however, show one major modification, a third tower. The Bec river style is known for the use of two towers with thatched or non-permanent buildings on top. Here at Xpujil they added a tower in the form of a pyramid.

Although the site's facade looks east, the best conserved part is at the rear. These towers were very solidly put together and served decorative purposes. Their stairs are exceedingly narrow and steep, while on the upper simulated towers there are three stone masks, which are apparently portrayals of felines, decorating the staircases. The simulated towers display Itzamná, the creator god, as a celestial serpent.