Xlapak
Xlabpak
Maya Late Classic Puuc 600–900 CE·Maya (Puuc Chenes)·🇲🇽 Yucatán, Mexico
About
About Xlapak
Petén–Puuc late Late Classic center (600–900 CE) on Ruta Puuc, smaller satellite of Uxmal/Kabah with Palace Group of coronated building with Chenes façade (stacked Chaac masks) 30 m long × 5 m high masks, stair to 3 temples. 50 structures over 1 km² with chultuns. Cepeda-Quirarte Puuc mosaic style; thin vault stones. Uninhabited after 800 CE Terminal Classic drought.
Why it mattersExemplary Puuc Chenes mosaic demonstrating Terminal Classic rain-god mask proliferation during aridization.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Satellite relation to Uxmal hierarchical vs autonomous
- 02Chenes vs Puuc style attribution
Theories
- 01Puuc mask-stacking as rain-petition during 800s drought
- 02Satellite as agricultural provider to Uxmal 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.600–900 CE
- Period
- Maya Late Classic Puuc 600–900 CE
- Culture
- Maya (Puuc Chenes)
- Builders
- Maya Puuc builders
- Purpose
- Satellite palace center on Puuc-Ruta, subsidiary to Uxmal
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–900 CE
Initial construction
c. 1628 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
20.1734° N · 89.6089° W · 40 m · 2 mapped features
Xlapak central feature
featureMain architectural feature
20.1734° N · 89.6089° WXlapak secondary sector
sectorSecondary sector
20.1744° N · 89.6079° W
Gallery