Ancient Maya Sites

For over two millennia, Copán thrived from the Early Preclassic era to the Postclassic period. The city boasted a unique sculptural style rooted in the lowland Maya tradition, possibly serving to highlight the Maya heritage of its rulers. Copán's rich history spans most of the Classic period and has been meticulously pieced together by archaeologists and epigraphers. As a dominant city in the southern Maya region, Copán controlled a vast kingdom. However, in AD 738, a significant blow struck the city when Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awill, one of its most powerful kings, was betrayed and put to death by the ruler of Quiriguá, his former vassal. This unexpected turn of events led to a 17-year period of decline for Copán, during which it may have fallen under the authority of Quiriguá. Some believe that Copán's ancient name was Oxwitik, translating to "Three Witiks," though the exact meaning of the term "witik" remains shrouded in mystery.

Established as early as 1200 BC, Caracol's epicentral area saw occupation beginning around 650 BC and ending by AD 950. The site boasts an impressive 25 stelae, 28 carved stone altars, over 250 burials, and 200 caches. By the Early Classic period (AD 250-550), Caracol was intricately connected to vast trade networks and regional ideological systems, fostering a unified economy across the lowlands. Officially founded in AD 331 by Te’ K’ab Chaak, the influence of Teotihuacan can be seen in a unique cremation ritual involving three individuals, hinting at early influences from northern Mexico.

Lamanai's history dates back to as early as the 16th century BC, and it rose to prominence during the Pre-Classic Period, spanning from the 4th century BC to the 1st century CE. A significant event in 625 CE was the erection of "Stele 9" at the site, inscribed in the Yucatec language of the Maya people. The occupation of Lamanai continued for centuries, up to the 17th century AD. Spanish friars attempted to establish Roman Catholic churches at Lamanai during the Spanish Conquest of Yucatan, but a Maya revolt forced them to retreat. Following this, the British incorporated the site into British Honduras, which later gained independence as Belize. Lamanai's rich history reflects the diverse cultural influences that have shaped its legacy over the millennia.

Altun Ha's occupation spanned from approximately 900 BC to 1000 AD. The majority of the historical records about Altun Ha originate from the Classic Period, which occurred from around 400 AD to 900 AD, marking a time when the city reached its peak population. This period sheds light on the bustling activity and cultural significance of Altun Ha during its zenith.

Xunantunich functioned as a Maya civic center during the Late and Terminal Classic periods, with evidence suggesting settlement as early as the ceramic phase of the Preclassic period. The significance of Xunantunich remains somewhat mysterious, as its exact importance in Maya civilization is yet to be fully determined.

Cerros, starting out as a small village of farmers, fishermen, and traders in the Late Preclassic Era around 400 BC, utilized its fertile lands and proximity to the sea for production and trade with other Maya communities. Around 50 BC, signs of economic growth and the emergence of the concept of kingship led to a significant urban development project in Cerros. The residents buried their homes to create space for a collection of temples and plazas, symbolizing the shift towards a more hierarchical society. Over time, as rulers passed away, new temples were erected in their honor, showcasing the evolving social structure and religious practices of Cerros. By around AD 100, the last major construction projects took place, with many structures left abandoned. While Cerros no longer served as a center of elite activities, it continued to be a hub for everyday domestic life. The population dwindled, and by the end of the Late Classic period, only a small village community remained. Since AD 400, Cerros has stood deserted, with any new construction likely limited to the outskirts as the population declined significantly. The site's history reflects the rise and fall of a once-thriving community, now left as a testament to the passage of time.

Tikal rose to become one of the most influential kingdoms of the ancient Maya civilization. The monumental architecture at the site dates back to the 4th century BC, but it was during the Classic Period, approximately from 200 to 900 AD, that Tikal reached its peak. At this time, the city held immense political, economic, and military power, dominating much of the Maya region and engaging in interactions with distant areas like the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico. Historical evidence suggests that Tikal may have been conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century BC. Following the conclusion of the Late Classic Period, Tikal did not witness the construction of any new major monuments, and there are indications that elite palaces were set ablaze. These events coincided with a gradual decline in population, ultimately resulting in the abandonment of the site by the end of the 10th century. Tikal's history encapsulates a story of rise to power, interactions with distant civilizations, and eventual decline and abandonment, leaving behind a legacy of ancient grandeur.

Established as early as 400 BC, Edzna was a site of human habitation until its abandonment around 1500 AD. Throughout its occupation, a governing system was established, with power derived from the relationship between governors and deities. In the Late Classic period, Edzna was affiliated with the Calakmul polity, showcasing its political connections and influence during that era. While some evidence suggests that Edzna may have been settled as far back as 600 BC, it wasn't until around 200 AD that it evolved into a major urban center. The name "Edzna" translates to "House of the Itzaes," reflecting the cultural significance of the site. Despite its distance from the Puuc Hills sites, the architectural style of Edzna exhibits characteristics of the Puuc style, illustrating the diverse influences present in the region. The reasons behind the decline and eventual abandonment of Edzna remain shrouded in mystery, leaving scholars and researchers intrigued by the enigmatic fate of this ancient city. Today, Edzna stands as a testament to the rich history and architectural legacy of the Maya civilization, offering glimpses into its past glory and unanswered questions about its ultimate demise.

At its height of civilization, Coba is believed to have housed around 50,000 residents, with the built-up area spanning over 30 square miles. The site was initially settled by a sizable agricultural population as early as the first century. The majority of Coba's significant constructions took place during the middle and late Classic periods, from about 500 to 900 AD, with the bulk of dated hieroglyphic inscriptions originating from the 7th century. Despite its peak in the Classic period, Coba remained a significant site well into the Post-Classic era. New temples were constructed, and existing ones were maintained at least until the 14th century, possibly enduring until the arrival of the Spanish. This prolonged importance and ongoing construction activities reflect the enduring cultural and religious significance of Coba over several centuries, making it a vital center in the evolving landscape of Maya civilization.

Uxmal, which translates to "Thrice Built," was founded around 500 A.D. by Hun Uitzil Chat Tutul Xiu, and for generations, it was ruled by the Xiu family. Positioned as the most influential site in western Yucatán, Uxmal, in conjunction with Chichen Itza, held dominance over the northern Maya region for a period. However, after approximately 1200, there is a noticeable absence of significant new construction at Uxmal, likely linked to the decline of its ally Chichen Itza and the power shift to Mayapan in Yucatán. The Xiu family relocated their capital to Mani, leading to a decline in Uxmal's population. Uxmal reached its peak of dominance between 875 and 900 CE, serving as the capital of a regional state in the Puuc region from 850 to 950 CE. The Maya dynasty expanded its influence over neighboring territories during this time. Despite its brief period of prominence, the population began to disperse around 1000 CE, marking the decline of Uxmal's power. Following the Spanish conquest of Yucatan, during which the Xiu family allied with the Spanish, early colonial records indicate that Uxmal maintained some importance until the 1550s. However, as the Spanish did not establish a town at Uxmal, the site was eventually abandoned shortly after the conquest, marking the end of its era as a thriving Maya center.

Calakmul stood as a significant Maya power in the northern Petén Basin region of the Yucatan Peninsula, governing a vast domain characterized by the widespread use of their emblem glyph, the snake head sign reading "Kaan." Referred to as the Kingdom of the Snake, Calakmul held sway over much of the Classic Period, asserting its authority in the region. The city itself boasted an estimated population of 50,000 inhabitants and exerted control over territories as far as 90 miles away. The archaeological site of Calakmul is home to 6,750 ancient structures, with the grand pyramid being the most prominent. Structure 2, towering over 148 feet high, ranks among the tallest Maya pyramids, featuring four tombs within its confines. Similar to other Mesoamerican temples, the pyramid at Calakmul expanded in size by successive constructions atop the existing structure. The central monumental architecture covers approximately 0.77 square miles, while the entire site, predominantly characterized by dense residential complexes, spans about 7.7 square miles. Throughout the Classic Period, Calakmul engaged in a fierce rivalry with the prominent city of Tikal to the south, leading to intense political maneuverings between these two Maya superpowers. The enduring legacy of Calakmul lies not only in its impressive structures but also in its role as a formidable political entity that shaped the dynamics of the region during the height of Maya civilization.

Ek' Balam, translating to Black Jaguar, was continuously inhabited from the Middle Preclassic era through the Postclassic period, although its status as a major city diminished after the Late Classic period. Beginning in the Late Preclassic period, the population of Ek' Balam grew steadily, leading to the city's expansion across subsequent eras. By the start of the Common Era, it had evolved into the capital of the political entity governing the surrounding region. During its peak from 770 to 840 CE, Ek' Balam offered valuable insights into northern Classic Maya cities, as many other notable sites in the northern region, such as Coba, Izamal, and Edzna, suffered from poor preservation. It was during this pinnacle that the Late Yumcab ceramic complex (750-1050/1100 CE) influenced the architecture and pottery of Ek' Balam. However, the population experienced a significant decline during the Postclassic period, plummeting to just 10% of its peak, as Ek' Balam gradually became deserted. Various theories exist regarding the reasons behind its abandonment and the pace at which it occurred. In a late-sixteenth-century Relación Geográfica, an official inquiry conducted by the colonial government among local Spanish landowners, Ek' Balam is mentioned as belonging to a kingdom known as 'Talol,' founded by an individual named Ek' Balam or Coch Cal Balam, believed to have originated from the East. Subsequently, the aristocratic Cupul family exerted dominance over the region, further shaping the history and legacy of Ek' Balam within the context of Maya civilization.

Oxtankah, meaning "Center of Three Towns" in Yucatec Maya, is a relatively lesser-known medium-sized archaeological site situated just north of Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo state. It stands out as the largest and most significant discovery in the Bay of Chetumal area, with its primary structures located approximately 3000 feet (1000 meters) inland from the bay. The core area that has been excavated is focused around two plazas, housing a variety of temples, pyramids, palaces, and sunken courtyards, some of which have been restored and consolidated. Oxtankah boasts an early settlement history that peaked during the Early Classic Era (200-600 A.D.), with the majority of the structures visible today originating from this period and showcasing the Peten style of architecture. The site has yielded a collection of elaborate funerary tombs featuring vaulted ceilings, and numerous mounds are still awaiting exploration by archaeologists. Interestingly, Oxtankah remained inhabited up to the colonial era, evidenced by the presence of the remains of an open-air Spanish Chapel in the plaza, resembling the design of the chapel found in Dzibilchaltun. This continuity of habitation and the blend of cultural influences make Oxtankah a compelling site for archaeological study and historical appreciation.

Sayil, along with other Puuc sites, is believed to have played a significant role in the transition from Classic Period Maya culture to Postclassic society. Following the depopulation of the Maya lowlands during the Classic Maya collapse, Sayil experienced a brief resurgence in cultural activity during the Terminal Classic period. There is speculation that Sayil may have evolved from an earlier settlement called Chac II, established in the same valley as early as the fifth century AD. Radiocarbon and obsidian hydration dating indicate that Sayil emerged relatively early in the Terminal Classic period. Archaeological findings at Sayil, such as ceramic artifacts from the Palace indicating trade with the Peten region of Guatemala during the Late Classic period, suggest active commerce networks. The presence of obsidian artifacts from Guatemala further indicates the dominance of Classic-period trade routes during the construction of Sayil's monumental architecture. While Sayil originated in the Late Classic period, its most rapid expansion occurred during the Terminal Classic era. Structures like the C-shaped buildings around the Mirador Complex and the terrace of the Great Palace point to sustained occupation even after the abandonment of the central monumental structures. There was a brief period of continued residency in the residential areas of Sayil following the decline of the city's core. The primary phase of occupation at Sayil occurred between 800 and 950 AD, spanning from the Late to Terminal Classic periods, with evidence suggesting some form of reoccupation post the city's abandonment. This complex history highlights the dynamic nature of Sayil's development and its role in the evolving Maya cultural landscape.

Labna is a ceremonial center constructed during the Late and Terminal Classic Period, with an inscribed date corresponding to AD 862 found in the palace. The site was first documented by John Lloyd Stephens during his visit with artist Frederick Catherwood in 1842. Situated south of Uxmal, Labna stands out for its architectural wonders. One of the remarkable structures at Labna is a large two-story 'palace,' which ranks as one of the longest continuous buildings in the Puuc region, stretching approximately 393.7 feet in length. A ceremonial sacbe, or raised road, extends from the palace to an intricately adorned gateway arch known as "El Arco." This arch, while not serving as an entrance to the city, acts as a passage connecting different public areas within the ceremonial complex. Labna's architectural features reflect the sophistication and grandeur of Maya construction during the Late and Terminal Classic Periods, offering a glimpse into the ceremonial and ceremonial significance of the site within the Puuc region. The preservation of structures like the palace and the intricate El Arco highlights the meticulous craftsmanship and cultural importance attributed to Labna in the ancient Maya world.

The ancient ruins of Palenque span from approximately 226 BC to around 799 AD and are situated close to the Usamacinta River. While Palenque may be smaller in size compared to Tikal, Chichen Itza, or Copan, it boasts some of the Maya civilization's most exquisite architecture, sculptures, roof combs, and bas-relief carvings. Much of Palenque's history has been pieced together by deciphering hieroglyphic inscriptions found on numerous monuments. These inscriptions reveal a detailed chronicle of the ruling dynasty in the 5th century and shed light on the city-state's rivalries with neighboring states like Calakmul and Tonina. One of Palenque's most renowned leaders was K'inich Janaab Palak, also known as Pacal the Great, whose tomb was unearthed and explored within the Temple of the Inscriptions.

Acanceh was founded sometime between 300 and 500 AD, during the Early Classic period.

The ancient Maya city had about 400 buildings. Three of these buildings have been restored and are open to the public.   One of the older layers of the pyramid has been uncovered revealing several distinctive carved masks  as part of the pyramid's decoration.  The architecture of the structures at Acanceh show a Teotihuacano influence, leading some to believe it was a "colony" of Teotihuacan. 

The builders of Dzibilchaltun may have chosen the city site to be close to the coastal salt-producing coastal region. 

The site has been continuously occupied for thousands of years, although it has expanded and contracted from mid-sized city to small town more than once in its long history. 

The most famous structure is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, so named because of seven small effigies found at the site when the temple was discovered under the ruins of a later temple pyramid by archaeologists.

 Mayapan was the political and cultural capital of the Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Late Post-Classic period from the 1220s until the 1440s. Estimates of the total city population are 15,000–17,000 people, and the site has more than 4,000 structures within the city walls, and additional dwellings outside.

Aguada Fenix is a very large Preclassic Mayan site located in the state of Tabasco, Mexico near the border with Guatemala.  The site was recently discovered by using LIDAR.  The flattened mound constructed of earth and clay, is nearly a mile long and between 33 and 50 feet tall, is believed to have been built around 1000 BC to 800BC.  It has been described as the oldest and the largest Mayan ceremonial site known. 

Cahal Pech is a Maya site located near the town of San Ignacio, Belize. The site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family. Most of the major construction dates back to the Classic Period.  There is evidence of continuous habitation as far back as 1200 BC making Cahal Pech one of the oldest recognizably Maya site in Western Belize.

Lubaantum  dates dates back to the  Classic Period from around 730 AD to about 900 AD when it seems to have been completely abandoned. The architecture is unusual for Classical central lowlands Maya sites. Lubaantun's structures are mostly built of large black slabs of slate instead of limestone and mortar typically used in the area. Each stone was measured and cut to fit the surrounding stones used to build the structures. There are no stelae at Labaantum which is also unusual. Hundreds of Terminal Classic figurines and whistles have been discovered at Labaantum.

El Pilar is a Maya site on the Belize Guatemala border  7.5 miles north of San Ignacio, Belize.  "El Pilar" is Spanish for "watering basin". There is  an abundance of streams around the site and below a nearby ridge  which is rare in the Maya area.

The monuments of El Pilar are at the center of a 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) protected area known as El Pilar Archeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna, declared a cultural monument in both Belize and Guatemala in 1998. El Pilar is the largest Maya site in the Belize River area with over 25 plazas and hundreds of other major buildings, covering about 120 acres

Quirigua is a medium-sized site of about 1.2 square miles. During the Classic Period (200 AD – 900 AD), Quiriguá was at the intersection  of several important trade routes during the Classic Period.  A spectacular construction boom started in the early 8th century but it came to a stop about 850. There was a brief period of reoccupation in the Early Post Classic (900 AD). The  architectural and sculptural styles is similar to the nearby  city of Copan. The history of the two cities are interconnected. 

Quiriguá's rapid expansion in the 8th century was tied its military victory over Copán in 738. The king of Copan was captured and sacrificed in the Great Plaza at Quiriguá. Prior to this, Quiriguá had been a vassal state of Copán. 

Quiriguá is known for its wealth of sculpture, including some of the tallest stone monoliths ever erected in the New World. The largest one is a monument  measuring  35 feet in total length and weighs about 65 tons. It was carved from a single block red sandstone and brought from quarries 3 miles away.

El Mirador means "the lookout" or "the viewpoint" in Spanish.  It was a huge PreClassic Period Site (1000 BC -150 AD) reaching its peak between 400 BC around 200 BC. A defensive wall was built around the city during this period. At the end of this period El Mirador was abandoned or at least severaly depopulated for unknown reasons. However, its speculated that warfare may have been a factor. 

In the Late Classic Period around 800 AD the site was re-occupation and further construction continued. El Mirror was abandoned for the last time around the beginning of the Terminal Class Period (900 -1,100 AD)

In 2009 carved stucco panels dated to 300 BC were unearthed showing the Hero Twins swimming in the Underworld  carrying the head of their father the Maize God.  These events are described in th sacrad Popol Vuh as it was recited to a Spanish Dominican friar around 1550.The discovery confirms the  ancient Maya mythological beliefs are over 2000 years old. 

Yax-Ha was first settled sometime in the Middle Preclassic period (1000–350 BC). It developed into the largest city in the eastern Petén lakes region during the Late Preclassic (350 BC – AD 250) and expanded into an enormous city during the Early Classic (c. AD 250–600). At this time, in common with other sites in Petén, it shows strong influence from the distant city of Teotihuacan. It was eclipsed in  the Late Classic (600–900 AD) by neighbouring Naranjo but was never completely dominated. The city survived through the Terminal Classic (800–900 AD) but was abandoned by the Postclassic period (900–1525 AD).

Ixmiche  the western highlands of Guatemala  Guatemala. Iximche was the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya kingdom  from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524 (Late Post Classic Period.)   There are  poorly preserved remains of painted murals on some of the buildings and abundant evidence of human sacrifice.     

Zaculeu  Zaculeu was first occupied in the Early Classic Period  (AD 250–600). The architecture shows influence from Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico over 700 miles away. Major construction  date from the Classic Period (AD 250–900). There was additional and continuous construction from  the Early Postclassic (AD 900–1200) and Late Postclassic (AD 1200–1525)  The Mam Maya have used Zaculeu as a ceremonial site continuously to the present.

In A Forest of Kings by Linda Schele, devotes an entire chapter to a war between Tikal and Uaxactun, in which Uaxactun was defeated by forces led by the King Fire is Born (Siyal K'ak'), formerly identified as King Smoking Frog of Tikal.  Stella record  the history of Uaxactun up to the year of the war (378 AD) and includes Uaxactun kings who descended from Fire is Born. The  Tikal-Uaxactun alliance dominated the Guatemalan Peten  for the next 180 years.

Fire is Born  might have been a general sent  by Spearthrower Owl, the ruler of Teotihuacan  who conquered Tikal earlier the same year. This was a most significant event during the Maya Classic Period.  Some scholars suggested that new kings were installed at Tikal, Uaxactun, Rio Azul, El Peru, El Zapote and Teotihuacan intrusions as evidenced by the introduction of new rituals and images at these Maya Lowland sites.

 Aguateca is located in northern Petexbatun basin in the department of Peten. The ruins are some of the  best presevd in Guatemala. The early settlements date back from about 300 BC to 350 AD (Late PreClassic) The city center was occupied from about 200 B.C. until about 830 A.D.  The city was buit on top of a 300 foot bluff and is surrounded by defensive walls that extends up to 3 miles.   On one side  is  on  a steep sloop which overlooks Laguna Petexbatun, a small lake.

The ciity was ruled by King Tan  Te' K'Inich when was attacked, burned and plundered in 830 AD.  Its  people rapidly and completely abandoned the city leaving behind valuable artifacts and ceramics in their original domestic positions.  The pattern of destruction found at the site and and the rapid abandonment of its people seems to indicate the battle was focused on removing the King and ruling elite.  

Seibal  is located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala, about 100 km SW of Tikal. It was the largest city in the Pasión River region. 

The site was occupied from the Preclassic Period through to the Terminal Classic, with a significant hiatus.[3] The principal phase of occupation dates to the Late Preclassic (400 BC – AD 200), followed by a decline in the Early Classic (AD 200–600).[4] Seibal experienced a significant recovery in the Terminal Classic immediately prior to its complete abandonment,[5] reaching its second peak from about 830 to 890, with a population estimated at 8–10,000 people.[6] The dates on the stelae at Seibal are unusually late, with monuments still being dedicated after the Classic Maya collapse had engulfed most of the Petén region.[7] Many of Seibal's late monuments show artistic influence from central Mexicoand from the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

The early history of the site is lost due to the catastrophic defeat of the polity in AD 735 by the nearby Petexbatun kingdom with its capital at Dos Pilas, resulting in the destruction of its earlier sculpted monuments.[8] Seibal was reduced to being a vassal state until the destruction of the Petexbatun kingdom in the late 8th century AD.[9] In AD 830 a new elite installed itself at the site with the arrival of Wat'ul Chatel from Ucanal to the east. This new arrival reinvigorated Seibal and allowed it to last to the dawn of the 10th century, well after the Classic Maya collapse had engulfed most of the region.[10]

Topoxte was occupied from the Middle Preclassic right through to the Late Postclassic.  Obsidian from the Ixtepeque source started to be used from the Terminal Classic onwards and is used as a diagnostic marker for dating finds to the later periods of occupation at the site, when Ixtepeque became the principal source of obsidian for Topoxte and the wider Maya lowlands.[10]

The site was abandoned at the end of the Classic period (ca. 900) and reoccupied during the Postclassic at approximately 1100.[3] After being inhabited for a further three and a half centuries it may finally have been abandoned around 1450, although this has now been challenged.[11]

Chichen Itza site core was developed during its earlier phase of occupation, between 750 and 900 AD.  Its final layout was developed after 900 AD, and the 10th century saw the rise of the city as a regional capital controlling the area from central Yucatán to the north coast, with its power extending down the east and west coasts of the peninsula. The earliest hieroglyphic date discovered at Chichen Itza is equivalent to 832 AD, while the last known date was recorded in the Osario temple in 998.]

Tulum a walled city which served as a major port for Coba. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society, and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.[citation needed] One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.

Yaxchilan has its origins in the Preclassic Period.[1] A large part of what is known of the Classic Period history of the city comes from the hieroglyphic texts of the kings who ruled during its Late Classic apogee, one of the most important of which is Hieroglyphic Stairway 1.[11] Some retrospective inscriptions appear to have been used to rewrite Yaxchilan's dynastic history to suit king Bird Jaguar IV.[12] Before the rule of king Itzamnaaj Balam II, who reigned from 681 to 742, the city was relatively small.[12] The city-state then grew to a regional capital and the dynasty lasted into the early 9th century.

Bonampak is approximately 19 miles south of the larger site of Yaxchilan, under which Bonampak was a dependency, and the border with Guatemala. While the site is not overly impressive in terms of spatial or architectural size it is well known for the murals located within the three roomed Structure 1 (The Temple of the Murals). The construction of the site's structures dates to the Late Classic period (c. AD 580 to 800). In addition to being among the best-preserved Maya murals, the Bonampak murals are noteworthy for debunking early assumptions that the Maya were a peaceful culture of mystics (a position long-held and argued for by the well-known early Mesoamerican archaeologist, ethnohistorian and epigrapher from the Carnegie Institute of Washington, Sir John Eric Sidney Thompson),[3] as the murals clearly depict war and human sacrifice.

The site, lying close to a tributary of the Usumacinta River, was first seen by non-Mayans in 1946. Precisely who was first is a matter of speculation, but it was either two American travelers, Herman Charles (Carlos) Frey and John Bourne, or photographer/explorer Giles Healey. The Americans were led to the ruins by the local Lacandon Maya who still visited the site to pray in the ancient temples.  Giles Healey was the first to be shown the huge paintings covering the walls of one of the structure's three rooms. The paintings show the story of a single battle and its victorious outcome.[4

Chicanná was a Maya town that was built during the Classic period (600 A.D. to 830 A.D.). The site was named after its most famous building, Structure II, which means "House of the Serpent Mouth" in Mayan. In the Mayan language chi means "mouth", can means "serpent" and na means "house". The site is located two kilometers west of Becán in the Mexican state of Campeche on the Yucatán peninsula. It is one of 45 other ruin sites located within that area.

Chicanná was inhabited from 300 B.C. to 1100 A.D., but was thought to have reached its peak from 300 B.C. to 250 A.D. There is evidence that Chicanná may have been dependent on Becán for much of its existence, since Becán was self-sufficient. Chicanná is one of the most striking examples in the region of the mixing of architectural styles with its stunning detailed buildings. Its buildings have features of the Río Bec, Chenes (Mayan city) and even the Puuc style from the north. It does not have large pyramids, but relatively small buildings with an ornateness and quality of decoration that suggests that it was a center for the region's most elite.

Dos Pilas  dates to the Late Classic Period, being founded by an offshoot of the dynasty of the great city of Tikal in AD 629 in order to control trade routes in the Petexbatún region, particularly the Pasión River.[2] In AD 648 Dos Pilas broke away from Tikal and became a vassal state of Calakmul, although the first two kings of Dos Pilas continued to use the same emblem glyph that Tikal did.[3][4] It was a predator state from the beginning, conquering Itzan, Arroyo de Piedraand Tamarindito. Dos Pilas and a nearby city, Aguateca, eventually became the twin capitals of a single ruling dynasty.[5] The kingdom as a whole has been named as the Petexbatun Kingdom, after Lake Petexbatún, a body of water draining into the Pasión River.[6]

Dos Pilas gives an important glimpse into the great rivalries and political strife that characterised the Late Classic. Much of the history of Dos Pilas can now be reconstructed, with a level of detail which is almost unparalleled in the Maya area.[7]

Muyil was one of the earliest and longest inhabited ancient Maya sites on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the coastal site of Tulum, in the Municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Artifacts found here date back from as early as 350 BC. to as late as 1200-1500 AD. The ruins of Muyil are an example of Peten architecture, like those found in southern Mayan sites with their steep walled pyramids such as Tikal in Guatemala. It is situated on the Sian Ka'anlagoon, a name meaning "Where the Sky is Born". Muyil was located along a trade route on the Caribbean once accessible via a series of canals. Among the most commonly traded goods were Jade, obsidian, chocolate, honey, feathers, chewing gum, and salt. It is believed that throughout much of its history, Muyil had strong ties to the center of Coba located some 44 kilometres (27 mi) the north / northwest.[1] The 2010 federal census reported a population of 191 inhabitants in the locality.[2]

Becan was occupied in the middle Preclassic Maya period, about 550 BCE, and grew to a major population and ceremonial center a few hundred years later in the late Preclassic. The population and scale of construction declined in the early classic (c 250 CE), although it was still a significant site, and trade goods from Teotihuacan have been found. A ditch and ramparts were constructed around the site at this time. There is a ditch that runs the circumference of the city which covers approximately 25 hectares (61.7 acres). Around 500 the population again increased dramatically and many large new buildings were constructed, mostly in the Rio Bec style of Maya architecture. Construction of major buildings and elite monuments stopped about 830, although ceramic evidence show that the site continued to be occupied for some time thereafter, although the population went into decline and Becan was probably abandoned by about 1200.

The site was first documented in the archaeological literature in 1934 by archaeologists Karl Ruppert and John Denison on an expedition to the region sponsored by the Carnegie Institution of Washington, who named it "Becan" after the conspicuous ditch surrounding the center of the city; the ancient name of the site is not known. From 1969 to 1971 archaeological excavations were made at Becan sponsored by Tulane University and the National Geographic Society.

The name Kabah was first suggested by Estanislao Carrillo in 1846 and is usually taken to be archaic Maya language for "strong hand".[2] This is a pre-Columbian name for the site, mentioned in the Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel.[2] An alternative name is Kabahaucan or "royal snake in the hand," suggested by Teoberto Maler.[2]

The area was inhabited from the mid 3rd century BCE. Most of the architecture now visible was built between the 7th century and 11th centuries CE. J. E. S. Thompson used a sculpted doorjamb from Structure 2C6 to suggest the date of the ruin to be 879 CE, probably around the city's apex.[2] Another inscribed date found at the site is one of the latest carved in the Maya Classic style, in 987 CE

Toniná was a Maya city in what is now the Mexican state of Chiapas.

The site is medium to large, with groups of temple-pyramids set on terraces rising some 71 metres (233 ft) above a plaza,[1] a large court for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame, and over 100 carved monuments, most dating from the 6th century through the 9th centuries AD, during the Classic period. Toniná is distinguished by its well preserved stucco sculptures and particularly by its in-the-round carved monuments, produced to an extent not seen in Mesoamerica since the end of the much earlier Olmec civilization.[2] Toniná possesses one of the largest pyramids in Mexico; at 74 metres (243 ft) in height, it is taller than the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan.[3]

Toniná was an aggressive state in the Late Classic, using warfare to develop a powerful kingdom.[4] For much of its history, Toniná was engaged in sporadic warfare with Palenque, its greatest rival and one of the most important polities in the west of the Maya region, although Toniná eventually became the dominant city in the west.[5]

The city is notable for having the last known Long Count date on any Maya monument, marking the end of the Classic Maya period in AD 909.[6]

Aké  is 25 miles east of Mérida, 

The name Ake means "place of reeds" in Yucatec Maya. One notable feature of the site is its system of pre-Columbian sacbeo'ob or roads that facilitate access with other settlements in the region.

The architecture dates from the Early Classic era (A.D. 250-550). They were first described in print by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood in the early 1840s.

Aké is bounded by two concentric walls; one defines the core of the settlement with an area of 4 km2, while the other protects the core housing. The core is large and square in shape and is surrounded by tall buildings measuring about 25 m2. Structure One, also called the palace, with rows of stone columns atop a step-pyramid platform is the site's most impressive feature. While most Maya pyramids are built steep with many narrow steps, Structure One is a gradual climb of huge, flat stone slabs. This megalithic architectural style is an Early Classic diagnostic, and may also be seen at the sites of Izamal and Ek Balam. The remains of an ancient Maya raised pedestrian causeway, or sacbe, runs to Aké from Izamal. The ruins are all within a 19th-century Hacienda henequenera.

El Rey reached its housing peak probably in the early classical period (250-600 AD). The first settlers built houses on platforms.

Between 200 and 1200 AD. the inhabitants  worked as fishermen and in salt extraction. 

In a later period the site gained importance because immigrants arrived from the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula, approximately between 1300 and 1500 AD. The structures that can currently be seen date from then.

Within the coastal commercial network El Rey was one of the ports on the Caribbean coast. 

After the arrival of the Spaniards in the sixteenth century, the site was abandoned by the Mayans.

Chacchoben was settled by the Maya about 200 BC. Structures date from 700 AD. It is characterised by large temples and massive platform groups. 

El Tajín and nearby sites have been occupied at least since 5600 BCE and show how nomadic hunters and gatherers eventually became sedentary farmers, building more complex societies prior to the rise of the city of El Tajin.The pace of this societal progression became more rapid with the rise of the neighboring Olmec civilization around 1150 BCE, although the Olmecs were never here in great numbers.[17] It is unclear who built the city. Some argue in favor of the Totonacs and the Xapaneca; however, there is a significant amount of evidence that the area was populated by the Huastec at the time the settlement was founded in the 1st century CE[16][18] Monumental construction started soon after and by 600 CE, El Tajín was a city.[6][19] The rapid rise of Tajin was due to its strategic position along the old Mesoamerican trade routes. It controlled the flow of commodities, both exports such as vanilla and imports from other locations in what is now Mexico and Central America. From the early centuries, objects from Teotihuacan are abundant.[19]

Xochicalco was founded in about 650 AD by the Olmeca-Xicallanca, which are a Mayan group of traders from Campeche, at a site that gave them an excellent position along several of the major Mesoamerican trade routes. The city-state had a population of 10,000 to 15,000 people, many of whom were engaged in craft production and long-distance trade. It was an important fortressed commercial and religious center following the decline of the great Meso-American city states. The poor farming conditions in the area show that it was likely built for defense purposes and trading. The ruins were first described by explorer Antonio Alzate in 1777 In 1810,  Alexander von Humbodt  published a description and illustration of Xochicalco, based on Alzate's description and an engraving published in Mexico City in 1791. Emperor Maximillian visited the ruins during his brief reign. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent was restored by Mexican archaeologist  Leopoldo Batrin in 1910. Major archaeological excavations and further restorations were done in a project from the 1940s through the 1960s by Eduardo Noguera and César Saenz. Jaime Litvak King also worked at the site. In 1976 archaeologist Kenneth Hirth of Pennsylvania State University began a multi-season fieldwork project in which he mapped the entire site and conducted excavations of houses and obsidian workshops. In 1988 a large-scale program of excavation of monumental architecture was initiated by Norberto González Crespo and Silvia Garza of the INAH. A new museum was built to house the spectacular finds of this project.

 Tula's  earliest settlements appear around 400 BCE. Tula was probably settled by people of various ethnic backgrounds which may have included the Nonoalcas and the Chichimecas  from the south and north respectively.  The area probably was under the political control of Teotihuacan in the Epiclassic period,  according to Teotihuacan designs found on Tula pottery. The area's lime deposits were probably an important source for the plaster used in construction. At this time Tula was a small urban settlement with modest public architecture concentrated at Tula Chico (Small Tula). The constructions at Tula Chico are smaller than those in other Epiclassic sites, and was probably a minor player in the political and economic activity of the time.Tula Chico's occupation is from 650 to 900. From 650 to 750, Tula Chico developed, and at its height spanned five to six km2, parts of which may be buried under Tula Grande. The population was somewhere between 19,000 and 27,000 at its height. Tula Chico was abandoned between 850 and 900CE, and Tula Grande began to develop.  After the decline of Teotihuacan, there was a power vacuum with city states dominating small regions Tula ceramics change during this period, as styles and techniques come under new influences. At the same time, settlement patterns of the area significantly changed with occupation mostly on hilltops and high hillsides. Architecture and pottery show influence from the west and north, with some from the east, suggesting a multiethnic population.

Piedraas Negras had been populated since the 7th century BC. Its population seems to have peaked twice. The first population peak happened in the Late Preclassic period around 200 BC, and was followed by a decline. The second population peak of Piedras Negras happened in the Late Classic period, around the second half of the 8th century, during which the maximum population of the principal settlement is estimated to have been around 2,600. At the same time, Piedras Negras was also the largest polity in this region with a total population estimated to be around 50,000.

Piedras Negras was an independent city-state for most of the  early and Late Classic periods, although it was sometimes in alliance with other states of the region and may have paid tribute to others at times. It had an alliance with Yaxchilan,  in what is now Chiapas, Mexico. about 40 km up the Usumacinta River. Ceramics show the site was occupied from the mid-7th century BC to 850 AD. Its most impressive period of sculpture and architecture dated from about 608 through 810, although there is some evidence that Piedras Negras was already a city of some importance since 400 AD.

Cancuén was a major city during the Classic Period, reaching its peak during the 7th century. The city was a major trade center, specializing in jade, pyrite and obsidian. Its strategic position on the river Pasion helped it dominate trade in the region. Tajal Chan Ahk, one of the city's most powerful rulers, built the city's palace in 770 A.D. The palace covered nearly 23,000 square meters and contained 200 rooms, making it the largest in the Maya area. The city had two ball courts, a large marketplace and a dock on La Pasión River. The city does not contain many large temples or burial sites; it is thought that the inhabitants of Cancuén worshipped and buried their dead in the mountains near the city.

Naranjo was occupied from about 500 B.C. to 950 A.D, with its height in the Late Classic Period.[1] The site is part of Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The city lies along the Mopan and Holmul rivers, and is about 50 km east of the site of Tikal. Naranjo has been the victim of severe looting.[2][3] The site is known for its polychrome ceramic style[2]

"Naranjo" in Spanish means "Orange Tree", which in turn derives from the Mayan name Wak Kab'nal.[4] The emblem glyph of the Naranjo is transliterated as Sa'aal “the place where (maize) gruel abounds.” The Naranjo dynastic rulers are said to be the "Holy Lords of Sa'aal."

Oxkintok habitated from the Late Preclassic through the Late Postclassic periods of Maya prehistory. However, Oxkintok became a major center between the Early Classic and Terminal Classic periods (including what Carmen Varela terms the "Middle Classic"). It is well known as possessing a very early Long Count date in 475 CE (on the lintel of Structure 6 in the "Canul" group). The latest dated monument at the site records a date in 859 CE. In total there are about 70,000 pot sherds collected at Oxkintok, and 38 complete vessels. The chronology is largely based on pottery types that emerge and die out in Maya culture. However, there is ongoing debate within the excavation team about how to interpret the ceramics. The chronology that includes aspects aside from ceramics includes architecture and iconography.

Yucatan Magazine

El Peru , also known as Waka recorded a meeting between Teotihuacan and the Maya occurred  in 378, 10 days prior to their arrival at Tikal. This moment is known among Mesoamerican archaeologists as “La Entrada.” During the early phases of the Early Classic, Waka’ was allied with Tikal.

Waka’, however, later betrayed Tikal and forged a political alliance with Calakmul. This alliance was solidified by K'inich Balam (“Sun Faced Jaguar”), who ruled from the late 7th century to the early 8th century and was married to Lady T'abi, a princess from Calakmul, capital of the Kan dynasty at the time. This union was a political maneuver that linked El Peru (K’inich Balam) to Calakmul and its leader Yuknom Cheen in a military alliance. Lady T’abi was later given the title ix kaloomté ("empress" or "warlord”), a high title used in ancient Maya texts. Yuknom Cheen was attempting to gather several Maya kingdoms into a larger polity.

Waka's downfall was likely initiated by its alliance with Calakmul. Following Tikal's re-emergence from its hiatus in the Late Classic, Calakmul fell to its military might. Calakmul's ruler Yik'in Chan K'awiil, likely the brother of Lady T'abi, was defeated, captured, and sacrificed in Tikal's central plaza in 732. Waka’ was converted into a vassal state of Tikal. Yik'in Chan K'awiil defeated Waka' in 743. After his victory he took an image of a celestial serpent from Waka' and brought it to Tikal. According to Robert Sharer, the celestial serpent was possibly Waka's patron deity. Evidence for Yik'in Chan K'awiil's act can be found on Tikal's Temple IV. Not a year later he defeated Naranjo.[2] Waka' was eventually destroyed a decade later, an event that included the capture and sacrifice of K'inich Balam's successor.

Sacul is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the upper drainage of the Mopan River, in the Petén department of Guatemala.[1]The city occupied an important trade route through the Maya Mountains.[2] The main period of occupation dates to the Late Classic Period.[3] In the late 8th century AD through to the early 9th century, Sacul was one of the few kingdoms in the southeastern Petén region to use its own Emblem Glyph, together with Ixtutz and Ucanal.[4]

In AD 779 Sacul went to war against Ixkun and lost, but stelae at both cities record a visit to Ixkun by king Ch'iyel of Sacul just 11 years later and the two cities appear to have formed a military alliance at that time.[5]

The site core is arranged around a number of plazas, one of which forms a monumental acropolis.[3] The plazas were resurfaced in the Terminal Classic, when the city experienced a period of dense occupation.[3] At this time Sacul experienced a major surge in construction activity, with many buildings being extended or altered.[3] Sacul was inhabited into the Postclassic Period at a much reduced level, although it is not known if this represents a continuation of Classic Period occupation.[2] This final phase of activity was spread throughout both the ceremonial core and the residential periphery and ceramic finds demonstrate links to the Belize Valley and the southern area of the Maya Mountains.[2]

The site core includes pyramids, a ballcourt, a triadic complex and two E-Group astronomical complexes.[6]

San Bartolo is a small and very important archaeological site northeast of Tikal. The Late Preclassic site has mural paintings influenced by Olmec tradition. with examples of early and as yet undecipherable Maya script. The murals have cosmological images which reference mythology from the Popol Vuh. 

The site has the earliest known identifiable Maya inscriptions dating to around 300 BCE. It may also be the earliest glyphic evidence of the Long Count calendar. Besides the murals the site also have the oldest known Maya royal tomb. 

Izamal is an important archaeological site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is probably the biggest city of the Northern Yucatec Plains, covering a minimal urban extension of 53 square kilometres (20 sq mi). Its monumental buildings exceed 1,000,000 cubic meters of constructive volume and at least two raised causeways, known by their Mayan term sacbeob, connect it with other important centers, Ruins of Ake, located 29 kilometres (18 mi) to the west and Kantunil, 18 kilometers to the south, evidencing the religious, political and economic power of this political unit over a territory of more than 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) in extension. Izamal developed a particular constructive technique involving use of megalithic carved blocks, with defined architectonical characteristics like rounded corners, projected mouldings and thatched roofs at superstructures, which also appeared in other important urban centers within its hitherland, such as Ake, Uci and Dzilam.

The city was founded during the Late Formative Period (750–200 BC) and was continuously occupied until the Spanish Conquest. The most important constructive activity stage spans between Protoclassic (200 BC – 200 AD) and Late Classic (600–800 AD). It was partially abandoned with the rise of Chichen Itza in the Terminal Classic (800–1000A.D.) until the end of the Precolumbian era, when Izamal was considered a site of pilgrimages in the region, rivaled only by Chichen Itza. Its principal temples were sacred to the creator deity Itzamna and to the Sun god Kinich Ahau.

Five huge Pre-Columbian structures are still easily visible at Izamal (and two from some distance away in all directions). The first is a great pyramid to the Maya Sun god, Kinich Kak Moo (macaw of the solar fire face) with a base covering over 2 acres (8,000 m2) of ground and a volume of some 700,000 cubic meters. Atop this grand base is a pyramid of ten levels. To the south-east lies another great temple, called Itzamatul, and placed at the south of what was a main plaza, another huge building, called Ppap Hol Chak, was partially destroyed with the construction of a Franciscan temple during the 16th century. 

Chacmultun dates to the late Preclassic period. "Chacmultun" means "mounds of red stone" in the Maya language, the site got this name from the distinct red color of the buildings there. It is located 126 km from Merida.

Q'umarkaj, means "Place of old reeds"  (also known as Utatlan, the Nahuatl translation) was  one of the most powerful Maya cities when the Spanish arrived in the region in the early 16th century. It was the capital of the K’iche Maya  in the Late Post-Classic Period.  At the time of the Spanish Conquest  Q'umarkaj was founded during the reign of king Qʼuqʼumatz ("Feathered Serpent" in Kʼicheʼ) in the early 15th century.  In 1470 the city was seriously weakened by a rebellion among the nobility that resulted in the loss of key allies of the Kʼicheʼ.

Qʼumarkaj is the best known of the Late Postclassic highland Maya capitals. The city is referenced in Hernan Cortes's letters from Mexico.  The surviving architecture which includes a ball court,  temples and palaces, has been damaged by the looting of stone to build the nearby town of  Santa Cruz del Quiché.

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán or San Lorenzo is the collective name for three related site; San Lorenzo, Tenochtitlán and Potrero Nuevo located in Veracruz. Along with La Venta and Tres Zapotes, it was one of the three major cities of the Olmecs and the major center of Olmec culture from 1200 BCE to 900 BCE. San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán is best known today for the colossal stone heads, the greatest of which weigh over  30 tons and are over 9 feet high.

La Venta, ancient Olmec settlement, located near the border of modern Tabasco and Veracruz states, on the gulf coast of Mexico. La Venta was originally built on an island in the Tonalá River; now it is part of a large swamp. After petroleum was found there, many of the artifacts were moved to an archaeological park on the outskirts of the city of Villahermosa, some 80 miles (129 km) to the west.

Tres Zapotes was founded before  1000 BCE and emerged as a regional center  perhaps 900 - 800 BCE, roughly coinciding with the decline of San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. The earliest public architecture yet detected has been dated to the end of the Middle Formative, perhaps 500 BCE. 

It is thought that the two colossal heads date from this period.It was near Tres Zapotes that the first colossal head was discovered in 1862 by José Melgar. To date, two have been found locally, labeled "Monument A" and Monument Q". Smaller than the colossal heads at San Lorenzo, they measure slightly less than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high. Together with the cruder and significantly larger head at Rancho la Cobata, these colossal heads show evidence of a local style of dress and sculpture, differing from that of San Lorenzo and La Venta

And, unlike the Olmec site of La Venta, Tres Zapotes was not abandoned at the close of the Middle Formative period, c. 400 BCE, nor was it immediately affected by the folding of the Olmec culture in the eastern Olmec heartland. However, during the next several hundred years, the Olmec culture at Tres Zapotes and on the western edge of the Olmec heartland would be gradually transformed into what has come to be called the Epi-Olmec (or post-Olmec) culture.

Kaminaljuyu  was primarily occupied from 1500 BC to AD 1200 and has been described as one of the greatest of all Maya by Michael Coe, although very little remains today as most of the site is covered by Guatemala City.  First mapped scientifically by E.M. shook by E. M. Shook revealed over 200 platforms and pyramidal mounds at least half of which were created before the end of the Preclassic period (250 AD). Debate continues about the size, scale, and degree by which, as an economic and political entity, it integrated both the immediate Valley of Guatemala and the southern Maya area. 

Comalcalco is an ancient Maya archaeological site in the state of Tabasco, inside the modern town of the same name. 

Several details make Comalcalco a real oddball in the context of Mayan cities. For one, it was likely the westernmost major Maya settlement. The name Comalcalco is actually not Maya at all but rather Nahuatl and means house of the comales  — a smooth, flat griddle typically used in Mexico. However, the original name of the site was Joy Chan, meaning round sky. 

Balamkú is an archaeological site in the south of the Mexican state of Campeche, within the Calakmul Biosphere, near the entrance to Calakmul national park. 
The name of the city is made up of the Yucatec-Mayan words Balam, meaning jaguar, and Kú meaning temple — though it is often also referred to as the home or dwelling of the jaguar. 
The city was founded sometime between the 3rd and 5th century AD, right in the middle of the classical period, and was discovered fairly recently — in 1990 by the Mexican archaeologist Florentino Garicía Cruz while doing field research with a team from the INAH documenting evidence of archaeological looting.