Immerse yourself in the ancient Mayan city of Ek Balam, an archaeological site with unique architectural characteristics for its richness and mysticism.
Close to the tourist areas of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, in the central-eastern part of Yucatan and 190 km from its capital Mérida, is the ancient Mayan city of Ek Balam, an archaeological site with unique architectural characteristics due to its wealth and mysticism. Literally translated from the Mayan, its name means dark or black jaguar, although the settlers prefer to call it the jaguar star.
It was in 1994 when the Ek Balam archaeological project began under the auspices of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which is currently in its fourth stage of work. Until that year, the only explored construction of the walled enclosure was a small miniature temple, and little conservation work had been carried out on two other structures.
The main buildings are located in two squares called North and South, both in a walled area of 1.25 km2, in which other structures are also located. Five pre-Hispanic roads called sak be’oob start from the inner and outer walls; there is another called third wall, all of which is proof of the strong protection that was given to the central part of the city, the residence of the nobility and the rulers.
During the initial stage of the lNAH project, two buildings in the south plaza were liberated and consolidated: structure 10, along the eastern side, which consists of a large base on which a small temple is located and two platforms that hardly occupy a limited part of the surface, for which it is considered that the great open spaces could be dedicated to the ceremonies.
Another of the largest structures in this group - 17, located on the west side of the South Plaza - is known as Las Gemelas due to its peculiar composition, since it is formed by two identical upper constructions on the same basement. It also has a round observatory in a pyramidal structure, stelae of guardians in the shape of angels flanking the entrance
It has a snake's mouth almost three meters high, which allows us to sense a strong spiritual influence, unlike other pre-Hispanic archaeological sites.
Currently, access is achieved by a narrow high-risk highway, so the state government is about to finish a bypass of around nine kilometers that leads directly to such an attractive tourist destination, whose area is located in the municipality of Temozón, in addition to benefiting those of Valladolid and Tizimín, all in Yucatán, and with direct impacts on a population of more than 12 thousand inhabitants.
Source: Unknown Mexico No. 324 / February 2004
