MAYAN CITIES |
MAYAN CITIES |
The largest of the 3 sites in the Rio Bec style of the central Yucatan, Becan was
occupied from about 550 B.C. until almost 1000 A.D. In Mayan, Becan means "Ravine formed by Water",
and the city is ringed by a 2 kilometer moat that protected it from the tribal conflicts that were
prevalent during the early centuries of our era. The core area of the city is enclosed by a 50' wide
moat, behind which are remains of a wall that was about 10' high. The town had seven gateways, which
were approached by 'sacbes', ceremonial causeways paved with plaster.
The City is set into a group of hills, and consists of a series of large temple mounds and
courtyards and a fine ballcourt with sloping sides. Large parts of the site remain to be
excavated, including several very large and tall pyramidal mounds. The architecture of Becan
combines the massive towers of the Rio Bec style with the intricate and profuse decoration of
the Chenes style of the western Yucatan.
| Plaza seen from the entry to the site |  |
| View of the south plaza with round temple of Quetzalcoatl. |  |
| View of chenes style temple at north end of site. |  |
| View of the ballcourt west of the jaguar temple. |  |
| View from the top of the vaults of Structure 8. |  |
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Andreas Kultermann,andreask@interl.net 3 Park Place, #1, Keokuk, Iowa 52632 H: (319) 524-6169 W: (319) 524-8730 |