Aké Archaeological Site
Aké (Ak’eh) · Aké Tixkokob
Late Preclassic–Postclassic (300 BCE–1520 CE, column hall 600–800 CE)·Maya (North-central Yucatán – Izamal sphere)·🇲🇽 Yucatán, Tixkokob Municipality, Mexico
About
About Aké Archaeological Site
Maya city (300 BCE–1520 CE) walled by two concentric walls: inner 4 km sq core with 15 structures includingStructure 1— 30×30 m megalithic column hall 40+ stone columns 5 m high weighing 8 tons atop 10 m stepped platform (Puuc megalithic style), and sacbeob (Maya stone roads) - sacbe to Izamal 28 km long 10 m wide, sacbe to Xocnaceh 5 km and Tiikop. Colonial henequen hacienda park overlays sacbe intersection; INAH restored column hall showing Puuc veneer technique rare north-central Yuc.
Why it mattersPossesses largest megalithic column hall in northern Maya area; preserves longest documented sacbe (28 km to Izamal) exemplifying Maya engineered road network.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Megalithic vs Puuc veneer technology transition
- 02Sacbe construction labor estimate
Theories
- 01Road node for Izamal pilgrimage network
- 02Secondary palace-center subordinated to Izamal hegemony
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.300 BCE core, Structure 1 c.600–800 CE
- Period
- Late Preclassic–Postclassic (300 BCE–1520 CE, column hall 600–800 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (North-central Yucatán – Izamal sphere)
- Purpose
- Izamal-affiliated secondary capital controlling Izamal–Ticul white road system
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.300 BCE core, Structure 1 c.600–800 CE
Initial construction
c. 1229 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
20.9467° N · 89.3004° W · 9 m · 2 mapped features
Structure 1 column hall
temple30×30 m platform 10 m high with 40 megalithic columns
20.9470° N · 89.3002° WIzamal sacbe causeway head
causeway28 km white road 10 m wide head at Aké plaza, limestone paving
20.9464° N · 89.3006° W
Gallery