Plan de Ayutla, Maya archaeological site in Ocosingo, Mexico.
Plan de Ayutla is a Maya archaeological site in Ocosingo containing roughly 72 buildings arranged across three natural hills that served as ceremonial centers. The structures surround three main plazas that formed the heart of this ancient settlement, with the tallest buildings positioned on elevated terrain.
The settlement was founded around 150 BCE and developed into an urban center by 50 BCE. This makes it one of the earliest cities in the Upper Usumacinta region and demonstrates how Maya civilization established itself in this area during the early period.
The site reflects how the local Maya population organized daily life around three main plazas used for gathering and ceremonies. These open spaces connected the surrounding buildings and show how the community came together for important occasions.
The site can be reached by traveling to Nueva Palestina and then following a gravel road into the jungle. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain and thick vegetation.
One structure features one of the tallest vaulted ceilings known in Maya architecture with distinctive stepped moldings. Another building served as an observation point with window channels precisely aligned to track the winter solstice and solar zenith passages.
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