El Cedral Cozumel
El Cedral (Cozumel) · Oycib Sanctuary
Late Preclassic – Postclassic (c.300 BCE–1518 CE) Cozumel Maya – Spanish contact·Maya (Coastal East Coast)·🇲🇽 Quintana Roo, Cozumel Municipality, Mexico
About
About El Cedral Cozumel
El Cedral is Cozumel island's oldest pueblo (Preclassic village Oycib) 17 km south of San Miguel, Quintana Roo, at 10 m. Its knee-high Late Preclassic–Postclassic shrine platform (3m pyramid with eastern shrine) served coastal Ix Chel pilgrims traversing the island's interior sacbeob. In 1847 Maya Caste-War refugees re-settled the ruin; the bright 1847 Church of Caspar built against the temple marks Cozumel's rebirth and the Festival de El Cedral (May Cross). INAH cleared the stuccoed nave and altar of the small temple; the surrounding low platforms trace a dispersed hamlet that mirrors San Gervasio's pilgrimage network.
Why it mattersEl Cedral is Cozumel island's oldest pueblo (Preclassic village Oycib) 17 km south of San Miguel, Quintana Roo, at 10 m. Its knee-high Late Preclassic–Postclassic shrine platform (3m pyramid with eastern shrine) served coastal Ix Chel pilgrims traversing the island's interior sacbeob. In 1847 Maya C Type-site defining regional sequence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction
- 02Function of elite vs communal architecture
Theories
- 01Regional capital coordinating irrigation and exchange
- 02Ritual-ceremonial amphitheatre aligned to astronomy
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–1200 CE Maya temples; 1847 Spanish Caspar church
- Period
- Late Preclassic – Postclassic (c.300 BCE–1518 CE) Cozumel Maya – Spanish contact
- Culture
- Maya (Coastal East Coast)
- Builders
- Maya (Cozumel) – Spanish chapel 1847
- Purpose
- Cozumel interior small-temple town (Oycib) dedicated to Ix Chel pilgrims, later first Spanish Mass site on Cozumel (1847 Maya resettlement)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.300 BCE–1200 CE Maya temples; 1847 Spanish Caspar church
Initial construction
c.800–900 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
c.1000–1532
Late horizon / Inca incorporation where applicable
On the ground
Structures & features
20.3640° N · 86.8720° W · 10 m · 2 mapped features
Shrine-Pyramid Platform (Temple of Oycib)
pyramid3m temple platform with eastern shrine, altar and sacbe trace toward San Gervasio
20.3641° N · 86.8719° WChurch of Caspar and Pilgrim Plaza
ancient village1847 church built atop Maya platform with open pilgrim plaza and ceiba
20.3638° N · 86.8721° W
Gallery