ARCHAEOLOGY
With more
than 200 structures of different sizes and complexity, and totally adapted to
the region?s topography, Palenque
is unquestionably one of the most important Mayan archaeological sites. This place offers
splendid ruins and beautiful sculptures
and inscriptions dating back to the Classic period
(400?700 AD). Among it most important constructions are:
Templo de las Inscripciones (Temple of the Inscriptions) ?
This is the third structure on the eastern end. It gets its name from
the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the large panels
that can be seen in the temple?s entrance. They narrate the
history of King Pakal, his
ancestors, and their relationship to ancient Mayan gods. In 1952, archaeologist
Alberto Ruiz discovered a stairway
that leads to a chamber, where
he discovered the tomb and funerary
furnishings of King Pakal.
La Cripta (The Crypt) ? Located beneath the Temple
of Inscriptions.
To view the crypt, which
lies about 1.5 meters (5 feet) below the surface, you?ll
need to descend
the stairs. When the tomb
was discovered, archaeologists noticed that the last
six steps formed a platform that was filled
with offerings and a collective burial.
El Palacio (The Palace)
? This group of buildings was built on an artificial platform that measures 80
by 100 meters
(264 by 330 feet).
The most
notable construction is a four-sided tower
with an interior column and a spiral
staircase on the southwest side.
It is the
only construction of its kind
built during the Classic period
(400?700 AD). The three-tiered tower has an intermediary layer and a wide
courtyard that encircles the main
column. On the exterior, the walls are thick rectangular rubblework with large windows on
each level. The walls and
the staircases have stucco reliefs,
pictorial ornaments and hieroglyphs.
El Templo de la Cruz (Temple of the Cross) ?
Located on the northern end of Plaza del Sol, here you?ll be able to see tombs,
a monolith dubbed La
Muerta (which
depicts a person standing on a hieroglyph), two stone tablets with inscriptions,
and 18 clay cylinders representing deities. One of the main characteristics
of this edifice
is that it
doesn?t have a façade, thus it
allows you
to see the
main wall inside.
El Templo de la
Cruz Foliada (Temple of the Foliated Cross) ?
Constructed atop the Cerro de Miramar (Miramar Hill), which lies north of Plaza
del Sol, it has a battlement that surrounds the main wall and the indoor
courtyard. Inside you?ll find three
rooms; in the sanctum you?ll see a frieze with
stucco fragments and three tombstones
that form part of the
Tablero de la Cruz Foliada (a cross with
corn husks).
El Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) ?
Located at the western end of Plaza del Sol. In the sanctum
of this structure
you?ll see three limestone tablets depicting the image of
the sun-shield
king and beautifully carved narrative inscriptions. The main stucco
frieze has the image of a person
sitting down with a two-headed
serpent in the background.
