Uaymil Island Maya Port
Uaymil — Jaina Island Trade Port · Isla Uaymil
Terminal Classic – Postclassic (900–1520 CE)·Maya (Putún-Chontal / Campeche coast)·🇲🇽 Campeche, Gulf Coast – Jaina Island North, Mexico
About
About Uaymil Island Maya Port
Postclassic salt–shell island port (900–1520 CE) on Uaymil sand barrier island north of Jaina, 25 km offshore Campeche mangroves: 20 low platforms 1–2 m high with columned halls, oratories and pile-dwelling footprints, salt evaporation pans 2 ha and canoe harbor docking cut. Operated with Jaina mortuary island and Xcopte to ship northern Campeche salt to Petén; Morley–Andrews 1940s survey documented imported Tohil Plumbate and Fine Orange ceramics evidencing circum-peninsular trade. Subsistence on fish and transported water.
Why it mattersType-site for northern Campeche salt-island ports; demonstrates Maya hydraulic salt production on barrier islands; analogue to Jaina mortuary system predecessor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Volume of salt exported vs local production
- 02Freshwater procurement logistics
Theories
- 01State-controlled salt monopoly of Can Pech province
- 02Water-borne chert/salt exchange with inland Edzná hinterland
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.900–1100 CE island phases
- Period
- Terminal Classic – Postclassic (900–1520 CE)
- Culture
- Maya (Putún-Chontal / Campeche coast)
- Purpose
- Salinas island entrepôt and offshore necropolis port controlling salt pan
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.900–1100 CE island phases
Initial construction
c. 1405 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
20.3889° N · 90.6500° W · 2 m · 2 mapped features
North platform colonnade harbor
structure20×12 m coastal platform with column bases and canoe docking cut
20.3892° N · 90.6497° WSouth salt pan evaporation beds
hydraulic2 ha gridded salt-evaporation ridges 0.5 m high
20.3885° N · 90.6503° W