Dzibilchaltun is 10 minutes away from Merida down the highway to the coastal city of Progreso. Buildings in this archaeological site extend over an area of 17 km2 and include the outstanding Temple of the Seven Dolls, famous for the phenomenon of Sun and Moon alignments with the temple’s doorways. Sun alignments can be observed at sunrise on March 20th and 21st (Spring equinox) and on September 20th and 21st (Fall equinox), while Moon alignments can be seen between March 22nd and April 20th.
Another important attraction in Dzibilchaltun is the X’lacah (Maya for Old Village) cenote (sinkhole). At 40 m of depth, this is one of the largest and deepest underground rivers in Yucatan.
Dzibilchaltun was one of the large urban centers that flourished in the northern Yucatan peninsula and is among the oldest Maya cities, as confirmed by evidence of its occupation between the year 500 B.C. and 1500 A.D. The city occupies an area of 17 km2, within which there must have been over 8,000 architectural structures, although few of them have been excavated. Given its location near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, its economy was based on the production and use of marine products (salt, shell tools, seafood) as well as on those produced inland, such as maize.
There are still 12 “sacbes” (Maya for “white roads”), extending from the city’s center to periferal settlements. One of these roads leads to the X’lacah sinkhole, from whose bottom archaeologists have retrieved bone, stone, wood and pottery artifacts.
The most salient building in Dzibilchaltun is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, which got its name after the discovery of an offering consisting of seven pottery anthropomorphic figurines. At the heart of the ceremonial center there is an austere open chapel built by the Spaniards to teach the new religion to the Maya.
Dzibilchaltun brings together in a single spot a pre-Hispanic city, an eco-archaeological park and the Museum of the Maya People. The latter hosts a collection of representative pieces of the area, as well as a recreation of a traditional Maya house.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fee: MX$ 79
Free entrance to Mexican citizens on Sundays, upon presentation of official ID
The Equinox in Dzibilchaltun
More
