Ancient Tulum, Mexico
Mexico is famous for its Mayan and Aztec architecture. Their megalithic structures range from Mexico City into Guatemala, Honduras and throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.
The Mayan culture is credited with introducing a sophisticated calendar, agricultural practices and incredible stonework. Recently, evidence has risen that shows evidence of pre-Mayan civilization that existed linking Teohuitacan, Oaxaca, Veracruz, stretching down into southern Guatemala, with influences spreading into the world of the Maya, the Zapotec, Toltec, Mixtec and Aztec peoples. The pre-Mayans were a megalithic culture and are now considered the inspiration behind the Mayan emergence.
Located in the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula, Tulum is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city that acted as a major port for the city of Cob. The site is located on 12-meter (39 ft) tall cliffs overlooking the coast. Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans. There are three major archaeological structures of interest at the Tulum site. The El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God are the three most famous buildings.
The Tulum archaeological site is relatively compact compared with many other Maya sites in the vicinity, and is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites. As such, they are now the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza. Tulum has architecture typical of other Maya sites located on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and is similar to the architecture of the nearby Chichen Itza. One side was protected by steep sea cliffs and the in-land side was protected by a megalithic stone wall that measured some 5m (16ft) high, 8m (26ft) thick and approximately 400m (1300ft) long.
The Tulum site was well protected through the megalithic stone architecture that was designed to aid in the defense of the city. Construction of these massive stone walls would have taken an enormous amount of energy and time, which only serves to add to the mystery of their construction. On the southwest and northwest corners there are small structures that have been identified as watch towers. The perimeter walls of the site have five narrow gateways. The north and south walls have two each and the western side has one.
There are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west. Near the northern side of the wall a small cenote provided the city with fresh water. It is this impressive wall that makes Tulum one the most well-known fortified sites of the Maya.
The city was at its epoch between the 13th and 15th centuries. However, the people disappeared soon after the arrival of the first Spanish settlers due to the Old World diseases they carried.
The ancient archaeological site of Tulum is a popular tourist destination due to the picturesque view of the Caribbean and proximity to the popular resort of Cancun. The large number of cenotes and cave systems located in the Tulum area add to the attractions that lure tourists to this amazing destination every year.
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