Acanmul, Maya archaeological site in Campeche, Mexico
Acanmul is a Maya archaeological site with temples, platforms, and residential structures scattered across dense jungle near Campeche. The buildings are dispersed over roughly two square kilometers and display varied states of preservation.
Excavations between 1999 and 2005 showed that the site thrived during the Classical Maya period around 600 to 800 CE. Research indicates it was inhabited for centuries as an active settlement.
The way structures are organized here shows how Maya builders created organized settlements with a central temple area that served as the heart of community life.
The site is located about 25 kilometers northeast of Campeche and requires your own transportation to reach it. Visitors should bring water, sturdy shoes, and insect protection since the jungle environment can be challenging to navigate.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, villagers quarried stones from here to construct nearby haciendas, which significantly altered the site's original appearance. This practice of recycling ancient materials connects the Maya past directly to the colonial period that followed.
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