Stretching out below the Acropolis in the Mayan city of Kohunlich in Quintana Roo, Mexico is a large grassy field called the Acropolis Plaza . The Acropolis itself is located on the eastern edge of this field.
Acropolis Plaza in Kohunlich
SOURCE: Acropolis Plaza in Kohunlich (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.
The northern edge of the plaza is the site of the Palace, described in a plaque in front of the structure:
The Palace
The construction of this palace was undertaken around the year 600 A.D., when it was a mere one-storey structure . Later on, this primitive dwelling was partially demolished and a large platform was erected, upon which an elegant residence was built . It probably housed some of the most important personages of Kohunlich . For 600 years, the Palace suffered modifications . It was even vandalised, since many of the objects which once were in its interior, were found thrown away as junk in the West side of the platform.
The Palace in Kohunlich
SOURCE: The Palace in Kohunlich (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.
Interior of the Palace in Kohunlich
SOURCE: Interior of the Palace in Kohunlich (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.
On the western edge of the plaza are the ruins of the Western Residential Complex, described in another plaque:
Western Residential Complex
This complex was inhabited between the years 600 – 1200 A.D. and probably functioned as a residence for a group of high-ranking artisans, who basically dedicated themselves to the manufacture of shell artifacts . By observing the distribution of the rooms, one can see that they are a product of various construction periods in which they were subdivided, remodelled and, in some cased, demolished . This probably occured due to the need of larger living quarters for an ever growing population.
Western Residential Complex in Kohunlich
SOURCE: Western Residential Complex in Kohunlich (Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, México); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 02 February 2012.
Copyright © 2012 by Stephen J. Danko
