Chichen Itza
Yucatán pyramid site
Chichen Itza is an ancient Maya city in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, now a major archaeological site and tourist destination.
Its stepped pyramid, El Castillo, is among the most recognized structures of pre-Columbian America.
The name means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza" in Mayan.
We visited Chichen Itza during spring break.
Limestone sinkhole revealing groundwater
Indoor flight of steps
- templeSacred worship structure
- platformRaised flat structure
- equinoxSun crosses celestial midline
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
shadow · limestone · step · ceremonial · altar · astronomy · geometry · acoustics
Act of unearthing
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
- potsherdsFragments of broken ceramics
ceramics · epigraphy · lithics · fieldwork · trenches · surveying · pre-Columbian · bioarchaeology
Intended arrival point
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
- excursionBrief recreational trip
- guidebookReference for travelers
- visitorShort-term guest
landmark · attraction · souvenir · itinerary · Cancun · Valladolid · Merida · day trip
What stays after most goes
Cultural arm of UN
- World Heritage SiteInternationally recognized protected place
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- monumentStructure honoring someone remembered
patrimony · protection · cultural legacy · restoration · antiquity · custodianship · sacred site · protected zone
cenote
Limestone sinkhole revealing groundwater
staircase
Indoor flight of steps
serpent · shadow · limestone · step · ceremonial · altar · astronomy · geometry · acoustics · carving
excavation
Act of unearthing
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
potsherds · ceramics · epigraphy · lithics · fieldwork · trenches · surveying · pre-Columbian · bioarchaeology · osteology
destination
Intended arrival point
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
- excursionBrief recreational trip
- guidebookReference for travelers
visitor · landmark · attraction · souvenir · itinerary · Cancun · Valladolid · Merida · day trip · light show
remnants
What stays after most goes
UNESCO
Cultural arm of UN
- World Heritage SiteInternationally recognized protected place
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
monument · patrimony · protection · cultural legacy · restoration · antiquity · custodianship · sacred site · protected zone
- Latin American LandmarksMachu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Teotihuacan, Tikal, Angel Falls
- Mayan SitesTulum
- Mexican LandmarksTeotihuacan, Tulum, Tenochtitlan
- Mexican RuinsTeotihuacan, Tulum, Cholula, pyramids, Aztec ruins
- Yucatan PlacesMerida, Valladolid
- Famous LandmarksEiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Great Wall, Pyramids of Giza, Giza pyramids
Chichen ItzaPyramids of Giza
Ancient Egyptian royal tombs
Machu Picchu · Angkor Wat · Petra · Stonehenge · Parthenon
Chichen ItzaPompeii
Volcano-buried Roman city
Troy · Babylon · Carthage · lost cities