Bonampak, Archaeological site in Lacandon Jungle, Chiapas, Mexico
Bonampak is an archaeological site in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas, covering a compact area with a hillside acropolis and a large plaza. The stone temple buildings cluster around open courtyards, and the most famous one stands on the uppermost level of the main group.
The city emerged in the 6th century and reached its peak in the late 8th century when rulers commissioned elaborate paintings on temple walls. Defeat by neighboring Yaxchilán reduced the independence of the settlement before it was eventually abandoned.
The Lacandon family manages the grounds and maintains ancestral ties through ceremonies held at specific buildings. The copal incense they use carries a strong resinous scent that sometimes drifts between the ruins during ritual observances.
Access involves traveling through dense jungle, and visitors should check local security conditions before making the trip. Morning hours bring cooler temperatures and better natural light filtering through the temple openings to view the paintings.
The paintings show a total of 281 human figures, some of which bear deliberately blank labels. These missing names may indicate that the individuals died before the artists could complete the work fully.
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