Palenque Palace Tower Vault
Palenque Palace Tower Vault North Annex · Palenque Site
Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇲🇽 Chiapas, Palenque, Mexico
About
About Palenque Palace Tower Vault
Palenque Palace Tower Vault in Chiapas, Palenque, Mexico is a Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal walled area 12 ha and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 17.4840N -92.0460E controls access to Chiapas resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient city for Chiapas, Palenque, illustrating Bronze Age construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
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. 2800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Regional urban centre controlling trade and administration
- Rediscovered
- 1988 survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2800 BCE
Initial construction of Palenque Palace Tower Vault main structure
c. 1928
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1988–2018
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Palenque Palace Tower Vault) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
17.4840° N · 92.0460° W · 276 m · 4 mapped features
Palenque Palace Tower Vault — Main Structure
structurePrincipal ancient city — Walled area 12 ha with diagnostic masonry/panel
17.4848° N · 92.0451° WPalenque Palace Tower Vault — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
17.4830° N · 92.0467° WPalenque Palace Tower Vault — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
17.4855° N · 92.0448° WPalenque Palace Tower Vault — Hydraulic/Cistern
hydraulicHydraulic feature — cistern/reservoir or rock-cut channel associated with site
17.4824° N · 92.0471° W